Post by SoulTrainOz on Jun 19, 2006 1:54:20 GMT -5
By Christina L. Esparza Staff Writer
The 67-year-old man sitting in the jury box inside a courtroom in the Pomona Superior Court wore a blue county jail jump suit and shackles.
When the judge, Jack P. Hunt, asked him Wednesday if he waived his right to a speedy trial, he replied "No," brushing off his attorney's advice to wait for the District Attorney's Office to decide if it will seek the death penalty.
"You better get geared up for death," Hunt told Kent Wesley Holman before closing his case file and handing it to the court clerk.
The St. George, Utah, resident faces two counts of murder and arson in the shooting deaths of his elderly brother and sister-in-law in their West Covina condo last summer.
It's been nearly a year since Holman was arrested, and the District Attorney's Special Circumstance Committee that recommends the death penalty after a conviction has not yet made a decision to do so in this case, officials said.
"It's very unusual," Kent Thomas, Holman's public defender, said about the length of time the committee is taking. "At this point in time, I really have no comment," he said. "But if they make the wrong decision, I'll have plenty to say."
Thomas said he feared "political correctness" might play a role in whether the committee recommends the death penalty, but did not elaborate.
Holman, who has no prior criminal record, allegedly drove from Utah to the West Covina home of Lavar and Adeline Holman, shot the couple, and set their garage on fire to cover up the crime, officials said.
He then drove back to Utah and turned himself in to police there. A gun, suspected to be the murder weapon, was found in Kent Holman's car, police said.
Family members have said the brothers were in a dispute over money. In 2004, Kent Holman filed a lawsuit against his brother to nullify what he claims was a wrongful lien over property in Utah.
The couple - Lavar, 83, and Adeline, 80 - were avid golfers and members of the South Hills Country Club. Lavar Holman was described as a stern businessman with a soft side, Adeline as a devoted wife.
Thomas, however, said there were troubles in the Holman family that may shed a light on Kent Holman's actions.
His father, brother and uncle all fell into a deep depression in their 60s and committed suicide by shooting themselves, Thomas said.
He said he believes Kent Holman fell into that same depression.
"Look at family tree. Here you see males in their 60s are picking up guns and killing themselves," Thomas said. "It's not a coincidence."
Although the deputy district attorney on the case, Michael Cabral, could not be reached for comment, Thomas said all those involved agree the incident was a terrible tragedy.
Holman family members attended some court dates following Kent Holman's arrest in August but have not spoken publicly about the case.
Kent Holman's trial is expected to begin July 31.
Source: www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3951901
The 67-year-old man sitting in the jury box inside a courtroom in the Pomona Superior Court wore a blue county jail jump suit and shackles.
When the judge, Jack P. Hunt, asked him Wednesday if he waived his right to a speedy trial, he replied "No," brushing off his attorney's advice to wait for the District Attorney's Office to decide if it will seek the death penalty.
"You better get geared up for death," Hunt told Kent Wesley Holman before closing his case file and handing it to the court clerk.
The St. George, Utah, resident faces two counts of murder and arson in the shooting deaths of his elderly brother and sister-in-law in their West Covina condo last summer.
It's been nearly a year since Holman was arrested, and the District Attorney's Special Circumstance Committee that recommends the death penalty after a conviction has not yet made a decision to do so in this case, officials said.
"It's very unusual," Kent Thomas, Holman's public defender, said about the length of time the committee is taking. "At this point in time, I really have no comment," he said. "But if they make the wrong decision, I'll have plenty to say."
Thomas said he feared "political correctness" might play a role in whether the committee recommends the death penalty, but did not elaborate.
Holman, who has no prior criminal record, allegedly drove from Utah to the West Covina home of Lavar and Adeline Holman, shot the couple, and set their garage on fire to cover up the crime, officials said.
He then drove back to Utah and turned himself in to police there. A gun, suspected to be the murder weapon, was found in Kent Holman's car, police said.
Family members have said the brothers were in a dispute over money. In 2004, Kent Holman filed a lawsuit against his brother to nullify what he claims was a wrongful lien over property in Utah.
The couple - Lavar, 83, and Adeline, 80 - were avid golfers and members of the South Hills Country Club. Lavar Holman was described as a stern businessman with a soft side, Adeline as a devoted wife.
Thomas, however, said there were troubles in the Holman family that may shed a light on Kent Holman's actions.
His father, brother and uncle all fell into a deep depression in their 60s and committed suicide by shooting themselves, Thomas said.
He said he believes Kent Holman fell into that same depression.
"Look at family tree. Here you see males in their 60s are picking up guns and killing themselves," Thomas said. "It's not a coincidence."
Although the deputy district attorney on the case, Michael Cabral, could not be reached for comment, Thomas said all those involved agree the incident was a terrible tragedy.
Holman family members attended some court dates following Kent Holman's arrest in August but have not spoken publicly about the case.
Kent Holman's trial is expected to begin July 31.
Source: www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_3951901