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Request to sever murder trials denied
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More from Local NewsA judge turned down a defense attorney's request to have two separate trials for a defendant accused of killing two men in Oxnard in 2005.
On Friday, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee denied attorney Joe Villasana's motion to sever the two cases. Villasana represents Jimmy Hunter of Bakersfield, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors say Hunter, 20, killed Olee Evans, 47, on April 18, 2005.
Six months later, Hunter allegedly killed Davaun Dantaye Washington, 22, who was found dead in the hallway of his Oxnard home.
Villasana told the judge that 12 people who will serve as jurors won't be able to separate those two killings, which happened at different times and locations and will involve different defenses.
"It is going to be impossible because of the time frame involved — six months," said Villasana, who is with the Public Defender's Office.
Because it will be difficult for jurors to separate the two events, opinions will be formed before the facts are presented, Villasana argued in court.
In the death of Evans, Hunter's defense will be that he wasn't there when it occurred. Hunter will contend that he killed Washington in self-defense, according to Villasana.
Prosecutor Richard Simon said in an interview that, by law, if there is a weak criminal case and a strong one against a defendant, the judge can hold two trials.
However, according to Simon, both cases against Hunter are strong and that's why the judge denied the motion to sever them.
Evans was shot execution-style after a gun deal went sour. Evans was supposed to have $1,500 to buy some guns, and he had only $1,350, according to court testimony. There was a dispute, and Hunter pulled out a gun and shot Evans twice, according to the prosecution.
Simon claims that Hunter shot Washington because Washington allegedly robbed a drug dealer.
The judge set a hearing on the case for Oct. 12.
Posted by imbetnonit on August 25, 2007 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Judge McGee
Posted by jodijamess on August 27, 2007 at 5:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It really does not appear fair to me. Just imagine if you were in his shoes, you are presumed innocent in a court of law until proven guilty. I agree that if I were a juror it would be hard to seperate the cases. If this was a serial murderer that killed someone for the same reason, the same exact way every time I could understand having one trial but this case sounds a lot different than this and I don't think he will get a fair trial because of it.
Posted by 4evrinmyhrtdad on August 27, 2007 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FAIR? HE killed 2 people! Why should anyone be fair to him. He just decided to play God and end 2 peoples lives. Guilty now rot in jail!
Posted by narc121 on August 27, 2007 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
way to go high_society! "fair trial" my @ss! I'm so sick and tired of people on this blog crying for the "rights" of these criminals! Get some common sense and realize that we live in a world where idiots think they can kill people and get away with it!
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