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Fayed attorney says evidence is circumstantial
Murder case arraignment is postponed until Oct. 8
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The case against a Moorpark man accused of paying an employee to arrange the murder of his estranged wife is purely circumstantial and based on coincidences, the man's attorney said Tuesday outside Los Angeles Superior Court.
James Fayed, 45, allegedly paid $25,000 to Jose Luis Moya, 47, to orchestrate the slaying of Camarillo resident Pamela Fayed, who was stabbed to death in a Century City parking garage July 28.
The Fayeds, who owned an online gold and bullion trading business, were in the midst of a bitter divorce. The couple had been scheduled to appear in family court the day after Pamela Fayed's death.
Both James Fayed and Moya have been charged with capital murder and conspiracy and were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon. The arraignments were postponed until Oct. 8. Both men will remain in custody without bail.
Outside the courthouse, Mark Werksman, Fayed's attorney, said the evidence against his client is a based on "innocent acts Mr. Fayed performed, which have been strung together to allege" his role in the killing of Pamela Fayed.
Werksman also questioned the credibility of statements made by a jailhouse informant whom investigators used in building their case against Fayed.
"Mr. Fayed is dumbfounded by these allegations," Werksman said. "I don't think he has any idea who killed Mrs. Fayed."
Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, said her office does not discuss evidence and added that circumstantial evidence carries the same weight as direct evidence. "We do feel we have a very solid case here," she said.
In the criminal complaint, prosecutors state that Pamela Fayed was murdered by someone lying in wait and that it was done for financial gain. Both allegations are considered special circumstances, which allows the prosecution to seek the death penalty. Prosecutors have not decided if they will seek it.
On the day of her death, Pamela Fayed had attended a meeting with her estranged husband and their attorneys. She was in the parking garage, preparing to leave, when she was repeatedly stabbed.
A person was seen leaving the immediate area where Pamela Fayed was slain and getting into a Suzuki sport utility vehicle that Fayed had rented several weeks before at a Camarillo Avis.
More than one person was in the SUV, which was recorded on video, when it left the garage.
Moya returned the SUV to the rental company the next day.
Moya was arrested Thursday. Fayed was already in custody and facing one count of operating an online money transmitting business without a license in federal court when he was arrested Monday.
Federal prosecutors dropped the charge against him but have the option to refile the case.
Los Angeles police investigators, who are overseeing the homicide, have said more arrests are expected.
Posted by socalromans on September 17, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess Fayed will be dumbfounded when Moya rolls over on him too?
Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Guilty!
(and stupid, cause it's cheaper to keep her...)
Posted by lawabider on September 17, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
so incredibly sad that someone that loved someone enough to marry them and have children with them could murder them or have them murdered over money... Society's priorities are sure screwed up these days... I teach my kids, "the important things in life are not things at all"... spread the word...
Posted by rebel123 on September 17, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, circumstantial. Fayed just happened to pay Moya $25K in one lump sum. And Moya just happened to be in the parking garage when the wife was killed. And Fayed just happened to have a link to the vehicle that Moya was driving. Right....just a bunch of coincidences that lead to murder.
Posted by Read_This_One on September 17, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is Fayed's attorney supposed to say, "yup, my client did it, can we proceed to the sentencing phase!"
As we all know the majority of cases built to convict are 'circumstantial'.
It is rare that video or a confession is readily available to prosecute someone for their crime.
Posted by Rocket81 on September 17, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Case Closed.
Posted by NavalAviator on September 17, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The defense attorney is trying to influence the jury pool. And, about as many people have been convicted in circumstantial cases as those with direct evidence, the prisons are full of those convictions. Often, circumstantial, is all they have, and juries go for it.
Posted by get_outta_here on September 17, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this guy fayed is a real piece of work, his family is not even taking care of his 9yr old.They just dropped her on some people (not family) & has not bothered to contact them about her.
It's pathetic
Posted by romadati on September 17, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would he (Fayed) care about taking care of his daughter...he had his little girl mother's murdered...HEELLOOO!!
Posted by romadati on September 17, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, Mr. Werksman should keep his mouth shut...he must know this is a slam dunk so there's nothing to lose by opening his mouth...
Mr. "Piece of work" hired "Mr. Worksman..."
Posted by romadati on September 17, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Moya will make a deal, he'll get life sentence and "s_it-for-brains" will be "moyad"...and get the death penalty.
Posted by 4PETESAKE on September 26, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those Moyas have been known to be trash. Their family also is from El Rio. He would have done it $10.00 or some crack! GET RIDE OF HIM!
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