Judge Declares Mistrial After Murder Suspect Punches Attorney
POSTED: 8:41 AM PDT June 24, 2004
UPDATED: 8:45 AM PDT June 24, 2004
SALINAS, Calif. -- A Monterey County man on trial for murder will get a new trial after punching his attorney in the face.
Deputies say, just as testimony was about to finish Monday, Ernesto Venegas lunged forward and hit his public defender in the face. After the punch, Deputy Public Defender Steve Rease asked for a mistrial.
The judge granted the mistrial and said he'll also appoint a new defense attorney to represent Venegas in a new trial.
Venegas is accused of murder, burglary and attempted robbery in the shooting death of a King City storeowner during the fall of 2002.
POSTED: 8:41 AM PDT June 24, 2004
UPDATED: 8:45 AM PDT June 24, 2004
SALINAS, Calif. -- A Monterey County man on trial for murder will get a new trial after punching his attorney in the face.
Deputies say, just as testimony was about to finish Monday, Ernesto Venegas lunged forward and hit his public defender in the face. After the punch, Deputy Public Defender Steve Rease asked for a mistrial.
The judge granted the mistrial and said he'll also appoint a new defense attorney to represent Venegas in a new trial.
Venegas is accused of murder, burglary and attempted robbery in the shooting death of a King City storeowner during the fall of 2002.