State court upholds death for Sonoma County man who murdered family (more illegal madness)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 30, 2008 | Bob Egelko

[wac3rd]

The state Supreme Court upheld the death sentence today for Ramon Salcido, who murdered his wife, two daughters, three other relatives and his supervisor at a Sonoma County winery during a three-hour rampage in 1989. The justices unanimously rejected defense challenges to Salcido's arrest and transfer from his native Mexico to the United States, his seven murder convictions and his death sentence. Salcido can appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, and has another case pending before the state's high court raising separate issues. Salcido, now 47, used a gun and knife to murder his wife, Angela Richards Salcido, 24; their daughters, 4-year-old Sofia and 22-month-old Teresa; his mother-in-law, Marion Richards, 47; her daughters, 12-year-old Ruth and 8-year-old Maria; and Tracey Toovey, 35, his supervisor at Grand Cru Winery in Glen Ellen. He was also convicted of attempting to murder his 2-year-old daughter, Carmina, who survived a slashed throat, and another winery worker, Kenneth Butti, who was shot in the shoulder.

(snip)

But the court said law enforcement officials from both countries had believed Salcido was a U.S. citizen based on his own statements and on Salcido's residence in California, where he had a Social Security card and a driver's license.

(snip)

"It has not been demonstrated that Mexican officials released (Salcido) to American agents as a result of any misrepresentation," Chief Justice Ronald George said in today's ruling. Also, he said, "it is not our task to redress an asserted violation of an international agreement by a nation party."

The case is People vs. Salcido, S018814.

The ruling is available at www.couortinfo.ca.gov/opinons/documents/S018814.PDF

[wac3rd]

"But the court said law enforcement officials from both countries had believed Salcido was a U.S. citizen based on his own statements and on Salcido's residence in California, where he had a Social Security card and a driver's license."

So, the lawyer is fighting saying his fake ID and stolen identity in the US can save him from execution here. What do law schools turn out these days other than sewage?

[raybbr]

So, the lawyer is fighting saying his fake ID and stolen identity in the US can save him from execution here. What do law schools turn out these days other than sewage?

It's not just the lawyers. In Ohio an illegal couldn't be charged with homicide when he killed a guy because he didn't have a license. The charge had to be reduced to a misdemeanor only because he didn't have a license.

[EasySt]

He committed these murders in 1989?

At the rate this is proceeding through the courts, he’ll die of old age before he’s executed.

[gubamyster]

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