ALEJANDRO AVILA -- An Update

Various Newspapers

[AnnaZ]

 

 

Whenever I think of Alejandro Avila, I think of a James Woods quote about capital punishment -- something to the effect of being able to pull the switch and sit down to dinner.

 

California courtrooms filled the unimaginative media last year, and the year before that, ad nauseum, come to think of it. This year will of course be no exception, with the Michael Jackson, Robert Blake, and Arlen Specter spectacles confirmed for your entertainment pleasure.

 

But, without hoopla, things are getting readied in Orange County for the trial of Alejandro Avila.

 

 

Samantha Runnion
 

• Five-year-old Orange County (California) girl, abducted as she played in front of her house -- on a quiet residential street -- the evening of July 15, 2002. Her body was found the following day.
  • An autopsy revealed she'd been sexually molested and asphyxiated. Police suspected it was the work of a serial rapist who would strike again, partly because her body seemed to have been deliberately left where it would be quickly found.

  • Based in part on tips from the public, Alejandro Avila was arrested on July 19, and charged with kidnapping, murder and sex crimes on July 22.
  • The media has learned that forensic evidence ties Avila to Samantha's murder
  • Avila could face the death penalty.
  • Mitochondrial DNA: An explanation of the controversial evidence prosecutors want to use at Avila's trial
  http://crime.allinfoabout.com/runnion/updates.html

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2nd DNA expert details blood tests
Press-Enterprise (subscription), CA - Jan 11, 2005
... testified Monday that his company tested a blood stain from Samantha Runnion, a dark brown hair, and nine hairs found in the car of Alejandro Avila, who is ...

 

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December 13, 2004
At a pre-trial hearing, Edward L. Buse, a forensic scientist from the Orange County sheriff's crime lab, testified that scrapings found under Samantha's fingernails were consistent with Avila's DNA. The defense is arguing that the testing techniques are unreliable, and that this and other DNA evidence be excluded from trial (details). The judge will rule at a later date. 

The hearing is scheduled to resume January 10 and is expected to last two weeks, putting jury selection -- assuming the judge turns down an expected defense request for change of venue -- at the end of January.

http://crime.allinfoabout.com/runnion/updates.html

 

Full updates and all details are here: http://crime.about.com/od/current/p/runnion.htm

 

 

Now the odd twist -- isn't there always at least one? -- Avila's trial will not only be overshadowed by the celebs to the North, a major OC trial is also about to take place:

Gregory Haidl — son of a former Orange County assistant sheriff — is expected to be retried this month on charges that he and two friends raped an unconscious 16-year-old girl in his father's Corona del Mar garage in 2002. Jurors in Haidl's first trial deadlocked in June, favoring acquittal on nearly every count.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-ocnewyear1jan01,1,1620322.story?coll=la-editions-orange

 

Folks always wonder how child molesters might be treated in prison.... I guess it all has to do with character of the cellmate:

 

Defense attorneys in court played several television news broadcasts about the alleged firing of a Taser by deputies at Greg Haidl in jail last month. Those reports claimed the shooting came after he violated jailhouse rules by sharing a candy bar with Alejandro Avila, charged with the kidnap and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion in 2002.

Nachreiner's attorney, John Barnett, said the subpoenaed information was vital to determine how it could affect his client's case.

"It would have terrible consequences for my client if [Greg Haidl] is linked with a renowned child killer," Barnett said.

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/pilot/news/la-dpt-haidl11jan11,1,7496683.story?coll=la-tcn-pilot-news

 

 

Ya think?

[AnnaZ]

I thought I'd satisfy my curiosity with a little research...

[beaversmom]

That precious little girl. How soon we forget.

[Feiny]

You are so good...I have been busy posting ugly dress photos here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1327794/posts

[doug from upland]

I sent a scathing note to the Riverside defense attorney who got this scumbag off earlier. He should have been in a prison cell and this precious little girl would still be alive.

[AnnaZ]

This was a case that gripped me... what a horrible, horrible thing to befall such an angel.

There was a boy snatched off the street in the valley in '96 that affected me qute deeply as well. And then there was Beslan, of course. Each of these nightmares had something that reminded me of each of my three children, one each time. I have great empathy for the mothers of all involved.

 

The stuff of nightmares, Alejandro Avila:

 

 

 

 

[AnnaZ]

I sent a scathing note to the Riverside defense attorney who got this scumbag off earlier.

Did you really? God bless you, Doug. You so often put into action the action-less rants of others.

 

 

I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

[Palladin]

Thank you, Anna Z.

I haven't forgotten about sweet little Samantha.

Let us all pray that justice is done with Avila.

[AnnaZ]

I saw that article in today's Post (now being delivered!) and laughed. Your preggo prom dress link just about killed me.

[doug from upland]

"Actual Guilt, Actual Facts, Actual Hypocrisy"

Monday, July 22, 2002

By Kevin McCullough (kmc@wmca.com)
Far be it for me to complain about things when something appears different than what I had previously been told. I know, I know, I get the criticism all the time. "Kevin, you're just so analytical!" ". . . Why do you spend so much time, clarifying the details. . . " Silly, silly, me!


Oh well, forgive me, here I go again...


According to today's Washington Post, Chelsea J. Carter reports that the man who has been arrested in the killing of Samantha Runnion had been previously acquitted of another molesting charge.


Evidently the story goes like this: Alejandro Avila had been on the prowl before. In May of 1999, his ex-girlfriend (with whom Avila had lived), filed for a restraining order accusing Avila of stalking her. In her court statements she states repeatedly, "He has come to my home, my place of work, he is stalking me and follows me around town. . . "

In February of 2000, he was charged with not one, but two counts of lewd and "lascivious" behavior with the 9 year old daughter of his former girlfriend. At the same time he was charged with more "lascivious" behavior with a second girl - also 9 years of age. Following those charges, Avila was said to have threatened the mother of the second girl. These allegations all surfaced when the ex-girlfriend reported that her daughter had been molested from January to March.

It was at this time that the girl was living with her father in the same complex in Stanton California, where the Runnion family now lives. The ex-girlfriend's foster brother said that Avila had visited the girl in Stanton on several occasions in 1998-99.

So how was this guy even out on the street? Because of the expert legal work done by his attorney-at-the-time John Pozza, who brags on his website about the number of his "wins," defending people just like Avila.


A pet peeve of mine? Lawyers who get people off -- who are actually guilty. And let me be even more clear than that -- when I say "actually guilty", what I mean is "Did they do what they are accused of doing?"


My opinion is, "If he did it, put him away." If Pozzo didn't get a "win" for this multi-charged child molester -- Samantha Runnion would still be alive, and innocent today.


By the way, Mr. Pozzo's office number is 909-695-4550.

[doug from upland]

Now I remember. It wasn't a note. I was so angry that I wrote this song and emailed it to him.

MIDI - TOM DOOLEY -- scroll down to Folk/Irish

Hang down your head, John Pozza…we wonder if you've cried
You freed a child molester…and now Samatha has died

Are you devoid of conscience…is winning all that counts
Is there blood on your paycheck…the hatred of you now mounts

When did you lose your soul…was in back in law school
You're a whore in a system…where there is no golden rule

Avila's a monster…well, you must be so proud
The family endures nightmares…in their sleep, they scream aloud

Hang down your head, John Pozza…are there things you won't do
Have your own children asked you…hey, daddy, is this stuff true

You confused the jury…what tricks did you employ
When he walked out a free man…did that fill your heart with joy

Though you claim you did your job…you weren't forced with a gun
May her death always haunt you…you must live with what you've done