Posted on 08/07/2006 2:01:43 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
The California Supreme Court upheld the convictions and death sentence Monday for serial killer Richard Ramirez whose so-called Night Stalker killing spree terrorized the Los Angeles area in the mid 1980s.
Ramirez, 46, was sentenced to death in 1989 for 13 Los Angeles-area murders in 1984 and 1985. Satanic symbols were left at murder scenes and some victims were forced to "swear to Satan" by the killer, who entered homes through unlocked windows and doors.
The justices unanimously denied claims that Ramirez was incompetent to stand trial, that the case should have been moved outside Los Angeles, and that all the killings should not have been handled at one trial.
The court also rejected an unusual claim that Ramirez should have been denied his choice of lawyers, who were hired by his family.
Defendants often argue they were not allowed to hire the attorneys they wanted, but Ramirez's appellate team said his choice led to an incompetent defense.
Both trial attorneys had a combined five years of experience and a history of being held in contempt. Each was absent for long periods during Ramirez's trial.
Despite warning Ramirez against retaining the two, the judge did not disqualify them.
"A defendant whose request to substitute counsel is granted cannot complain on appeal that the trial court should have denied the request," Justice Carlos Moreno wrote in the 106-page opinion.
The justices were not weighing the effectiveness of the attorneys, which is the subject of another appeal. The justices ruled that defendants generally have the right to choose lawyers of their choice.
The case is People v. Ramirez, S012941.
He's got a more few years to go, unfortunately
Not if he was a woman.
The "death sentence" in California means 15 years in the DEATH ROW HILTON courtesy of the California taxpayer. Texas has a much better approach.
Don't worry, his lawyers will find some liberal judge who will loophole him out of a death-sentence.
Why can't we have a torture penalty?
So when is he going to be relieved of the burden of existence???
In September, a California Judge will finally get around to having a hearing and see if we can get the Death Penalty back on the rails here in California.
Justice is a joke these days where socialism is the standard of the day, imo.
If we're lucky, in a couple years at best, we have a few others already in the stalled pipeline.
If it were Virginia he'd have been gone before that
"Rocket Docket" Baby!!
"Why can't we have a torture penalty?"
I know how you feel. Ramirez made some of his victims listen to AC-DC at loud volumes.
"Ramirez was sentenced to death in 1989" Well, why is he still alive and costing me tax dollars? This individual is clearly unfit to live in any society, even a prison society. The sooner he is put to death, the better we will all be.
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