Post by SoulTrainOz on Jul 6, 2006 23:37:14 GMT -5
2 charged with murder of woman; court date set Aug. 7
In Stockton, the 2 men charged in the April shooting death of a Lathrop woman could face the death penalty.
Jeremy Nick Delphin, 19, and Fernando Valdez, 20, both of Lathrop, pleaded innocent Wednesday in San Joaquin County Superior Court.
Both have been charged in the homicide of Angelique Hewitt, 43, by means of lying in wait. Valdez also has been charged with street terrorism.
The defendants will return to court Aug. 7 Delphin to set a trial date and Valdez for a preliminary hearing by which time Supervising Deputy District Attorney Charles Schultz will decide if the death penalty will be sought.
Schultz said only that he has a strong case against the 2 men.
However, John Schick, Delphins defense attorney, said, I dont think theyll seek the death penalty. (Delphins) far too young. Schick added that Delphin had no previous criminal record.
The men may not be tried together. Valdezs lawyer, Elvira Lua, is a San Joaquin County public defender. To avoid a conflict of interest, Delphin is being represented by a private attorney retained by the county.
However, Valdez's brother, who may appear as a witness, is being represented by the public defenders office in another case. Valdez also may need to be appointed to an outside attorney, said Peter Fox, a public defender standing in for Lua, said.
Delphin, dressed in orange jail garb, and Valdez, clad in red jail
clothes, were led into court separately, sat two seats apart in the jury section and did not speak to each other.
Delphin had several supporters in the courtroom, including his mother, who declined comment.
Valdez was arrested in late June. Delphin was arrested in April, when police responded to a disturbance and shooting on the 200 block of E. Chandra Way.
This is the 2nd homicide in Lathrop this year, the other occurring in June. There have been 5 homicides in the city since its incorporation in 1989, police said.
(source: Tri-Vallaey Herald)
In Stockton, the 2 men charged in the April shooting death of a Lathrop woman could face the death penalty.
Jeremy Nick Delphin, 19, and Fernando Valdez, 20, both of Lathrop, pleaded innocent Wednesday in San Joaquin County Superior Court.
Both have been charged in the homicide of Angelique Hewitt, 43, by means of lying in wait. Valdez also has been charged with street terrorism.
The defendants will return to court Aug. 7 Delphin to set a trial date and Valdez for a preliminary hearing by which time Supervising Deputy District Attorney Charles Schultz will decide if the death penalty will be sought.
Schultz said only that he has a strong case against the 2 men.
However, John Schick, Delphins defense attorney, said, I dont think theyll seek the death penalty. (Delphins) far too young. Schick added that Delphin had no previous criminal record.
The men may not be tried together. Valdezs lawyer, Elvira Lua, is a San Joaquin County public defender. To avoid a conflict of interest, Delphin is being represented by a private attorney retained by the county.
However, Valdez's brother, who may appear as a witness, is being represented by the public defenders office in another case. Valdez also may need to be appointed to an outside attorney, said Peter Fox, a public defender standing in for Lua, said.
Delphin, dressed in orange jail garb, and Valdez, clad in red jail
clothes, were led into court separately, sat two seats apart in the jury section and did not speak to each other.
Delphin had several supporters in the courtroom, including his mother, who declined comment.
Valdez was arrested in late June. Delphin was arrested in April, when police responded to a disturbance and shooting on the 200 block of E. Chandra Way.
This is the 2nd homicide in Lathrop this year, the other occurring in June. There have been 5 homicides in the city since its incorporation in 1989, police said.
(source: Tri-Vallaey Herald)