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Some warrant details in slaying to be released
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More from Conejo ValleyA judge ruled Friday that some of the information in sealed search warrants involving the August slaying of a Newbury Park child will be released Monday.
The Ventura County Star recently requested that two search warrants in the case be unsealed. Superior Court Judge Ken Riley on Friday ordered that some information be released and some remain sealed, because prosecutors said there is an ongoing investigation into the killing of 6-year-old Sev'n Molina.
Calvin Sharp was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the Aug. 12 slaying.
"An ongoing investigation would be harmed if that information was released at this time," Riley said.
The Star's lawyer, Ron Bamieh, objected to withholding the search-warrant information, saying the District Attorney's Office has already turned it over to Sharp's lawyer, Howard Asher. Bamieh argued in court that the district attorney can't legally claim the search warrants are now privileged information.
After the hearing, Bamieh said "governmental privilege" to withhold some of the records expired when law enforcement authorities gave them to Asher, who is the chief deputy public defender.
"That privilege exists as long as that information that the government has obtained has not been released to anybody besides government officials," he said.
Sharp is accused of killing the child with a meat cleaver and nearly killing the boy's mother, Sandra Ruiz, 33, a former girlfriend. Also injured was Dianne Cox, a neighbor who intervened to stop the attack.
The 28-year-old taxi driver is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is being held in jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail.
Bamieh claims Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox has turned over to Asher hundreds of pages of search-warrant documents.
Arguing against their release Friday, Fox cited an ongoing investigation and said police are still in "hot pursuit" of witnesses.
"The risk of contaminating witness statements is great," she said.
Asher argued that releasing the information could result in his client not getting a fair trial.
Riley redacted some of the statements on affidavits he ordered released.
"I did try to be very careful of your client's rights," the judge told Asher.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on October 13, 2007 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is one case I would totally recommend the death penalty! He was witness's by the Mother and the neighbor. No ifs and or but's here!
His Mother and the neighbor who intervened are true heros!!!! I hope you both recover fully and God watch's over you. Little Sev'n is in a better place. Although as any Mother you would have wanted him in your life longer, he will still always be with you. Watching you from Heaven above and waiting for you to join him. God Bless!
Posted by sincerelyCRITICIZED on October 13, 2007 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY IS THIS WORLD SO FULL OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO THAN TO COMMIT CRIMES THAT AFFECT AND/OR HURT OTHER PEOPLE THAT DONE ABSOULTLY NOTHING TO THEM?? WHAT DID THIS CHILD DO TO THIS GUY TO MAKE HIM KILL HIM?? NOTHING!! ABSOULTY NOTHING.. DONT GET ME WRONG I DONT KNOW THIS CHILD PERSONALLY.. BUT WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE CHILDREN AND INNOCENT PEOPLE OR WHOMEVER IT IS THAT ALWAYS SEEM TO GET HURT FOR NO REASON?? WHAT HAS THIS WORLD TURNED INTO??
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