The recent arrest of a former Marine on charges that he stalked and killed four homeless people has calmed the fears of many in the homeless community, which had been on edge.
But Santa Ana Criminal Defense Lawyer Vincent Howard believes this is a case that could be difficult to prove, as are many "serial" crimes. In order to charge one person with many crimes, authorities must have sound evidence linking them.
Often, police and prosecutors in Santa Ana murder cases will try to show a similar "motive" or "pattern" that they believe is proof that a single person is involved in multiple crimes. But that's simply not enough proof.
That's because, as Vincent Howard has seen many times before, the news media is often able to dig up enough information on a case -- from police, family members, witnesses and "inside" sources -- that they can broadcast to the world what really happened. This can inspire copycats who are watching television or reading in the newspaper.
If police rely solely on their suspicion that one person is responsible for the crime, this doesn't result in real justice. There must be physical evidence, such as fingerprints and DNA, or ironclad witness testimony that shows the person police suspected to be responsible really committed the crime.
This is a common problem in Santa Ana burglary cases as well. Burglary is a crime that is often committed over and over by a single suspect, so police typically are looking for patterns when they receive multiple reports of burglary in a certain neighborhood or committed in a certain way.
Santa Ana prosecutors recently said that the man they have arrested and charged with killing four homeless men is scheduled to make an initial court appearance soon, the Los Angeles Times reports.
His Santa Ana murder defense lawyer told the newspaper that the man sleeps in his jail cell most of the day. During their initial visit, he said his client was curled in a ball under a blanket, wearing just underwear. He said the man looked like a "scared, wet cat." The attorney said they had little conversation.
The man is being held in isolation on a psychological watch. He is being charged with murder with special circumstance, meaning he is eligible for the death penalty. The state alleges that he went on a killing spree, outlining the killings with graphic detail. They say the attacks became more violent over time.
Previous news reports indicated that he selected four men after he saw a news article about them. He allegedly stalked the men and stabbed them to death. Police are now saying the former Marine, who saw combat in Iraq, had selected future potential targets and thrived on the press coverage. The man's father is homeless.
Santa Ana Criminal Defense Lawyer Vincent Howard recognizes that this is going to be a large-scale media case, given the circumstances. That will undoubtedly be a factor with which the man's defense attorney will have to contend. More important though will be whether the state has any substantial evidence connecting these four brutal attacks.
If you or a loved one would like to speak to a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles or in any of the surrounding areas, contact HOWARD LAW PC for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-872-5925.
More Blog Entries:
Two Charged in Los Angeles Murder of High School Soccer Player: January 21, 2012
Aleman v. Village of Hanover Park Shows Aggressive Nature of Los Angeles Murder Investigations: January 15, 2012
Additional Resources:
Serial killer suspect looks like 'scared wet cat,' attorney says, by Hailey Branson-Potts, Christopher Goffard and Nicole Santa Cruz, Los Angeles Times
