The trial of Jared Loughner, accused of killing six people and wounding 13 in the assassination attempt on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will move to San Diego because of concerns that the 22-year-old suspect won't get a fair trial in traumatized Arizona.
Federal law enforcement sources told The Washington Post that pretrial publicity and local sensitivities surrounding the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson have prompted officials to seek a change of venue. One of those killed was Judge John Roll, the state's chief federal judge. All other Arizona federal judges have recused themselves from the case.
Roll's successor, Judge Roslyn Silver, is expected to make the final ruling on a change of venue. But one source told the Post the decision has basically been made already.
Last week, San Diego-based federal Judge Larry Burns was appointed to hear the Loughner case. And the suspect's lawyer, Judy Clarke, who previously defended Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, is based in San Diego. Loughner's other attorney, Mark Fleming, also has San Diego roots, the news website SanDiego.com reported.
The question of the death penalty may play into the venue change. Some experts speculate that Loughner is less likely to be sentenced to death in California than in more conservative Arizona.
The trial's move to San Diego could be considered a small procedural victory for Loughner's legal team, because of that reason. Changes of venue aren't often granted, but they're more frequent in high-profile cases when it's difficult to find an unbiased jury.
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/17/jared-loughner-trial-to-be-moved-to-san-diego/
Federal law enforcement sources told The Washington Post that pretrial publicity and local sensitivities surrounding the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson have prompted officials to seek a change of venue. One of those killed was Judge John Roll, the state's chief federal judge. All other Arizona federal judges have recused themselves from the case.
Roll's successor, Judge Roslyn Silver, is expected to make the final ruling on a change of venue. But one source told the Post the decision has basically been made already.
Last week, San Diego-based federal Judge Larry Burns was appointed to hear the Loughner case. And the suspect's lawyer, Judy Clarke, who previously defended Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, is based in San Diego. Loughner's other attorney, Mark Fleming, also has San Diego roots, the news website SanDiego.com reported.
The question of the death penalty may play into the venue change. Some experts speculate that Loughner is less likely to be sentenced to death in California than in more conservative Arizona.
The trial's move to San Diego could be considered a small procedural victory for Loughner's legal team, because of that reason. Changes of venue aren't often granted, but they're more frequent in high-profile cases when it's difficult to find an unbiased jury.
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/17/jared-loughner-trial-to-be-moved-to-san-diego/
