CA CA - Sierra Lamar, 15, Santa Clara County, 16 March 2012 - #23 - GUILTY/LWOP

[Niner]

Yes FINALLY!!!

*Sentencing Hearing @ 9am PT - CA - Sierra LaMar (15) (Mar. 16, 2012) - Antolin Garcia-Torres (26) found guilty of 1st degree murder & attempted kidnapping of 3 other women-expected sentence - LWOP from 9-14-17 date: The sentencing hearing for the man convicted of killing missing teen Sierra LaMar was abruptly postponed Thursday after defense attorneys moved to disqualify the judge for failing to disclose a potentially significant conflict of interest, which they claim is grounds for a new trial in the capital case. The defense learned Wednesday after working with Judge Vanessa A. Zecher for more than a year that she had once represented the prosecution’s lead investigator, Sheriff’s Sgt. Herman Leon, whose integrity has become a major issue in the Sierra trial and in another recent murder case. According to multiple sources, the judge said she did not recall representing Leon until defense attorneys brought up the issue as grounds for disqualifying her from sentencing him Friday, and for a new trial. The motion for disqualification is set to be heard in late October, most likely by a judge from outside the county. 10/4 Update: Next court hearing date Oct. 16th. 10/16 Update: moved to Nov. 6th at 9am New court date for the sentencing and the judge situation to December 12, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. in Dept. 40. 11/16 update - Judge denies motion to disqualify judge & new trial.Sentencing Today!


:judge:

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940610291561218048

https://twitter.com/KRON4RFladeboe/status/940616808951726080

https://twitter.com/morganhilltimes/status/940624643118972928

 

[Niner]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940610291561218048

https://twitter.com/KRON4RFladeboe/status/940616808951726080

https://twitter.com/morganhilltimes/status/940624643118972928

I'm getting this message with ALL the above:

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[Niner]

@Rob Fladeboe kron4‏ @KRON4RFladeboe
1m1 minute ago

Defense introduces motion for “evidentiary hearing” as part of motion for new trial as sentencing looms for #AntolinGarciaTorres, convicted in murder of #SierraLaMar. Hearing happening now.

 

[Niner]

@Rob Fladeboe kron4‏ @KRON4RFladeboe
8m8 minutes ago

Sgt Herman Leon, crime scene investigator in Sierra LaMar murder case takes stand. Defense infers his testimony in previous cases about suspects wearing gloves contradicts his testimony in this case.


tracey kaplan‏Verified account @tkaplanreport
11m11 minutes ago

#SierraLaMar hearing begins with BANG! Sgt Herman Leon takes stand. Def trying to prove he “testilied” during this trial/falsified evidence. Stems from a ruling by another judge in a different murder trial who found he gave false testimony, saying 30-40% of stabbing suspects...


#SierraLaMar ...wore gloves when actually zero stabbing suspects in sheriff’s cases did so. Leon says today that his testimony was an “ educated guess”: “It May very well be wrong but it wasn’t false.” Leon’s testimony in that case helped tip the balance in favor of conviction.


#SierraLaMar:my educated guess is Judge Vanessa A. Zecher will deny this motion for new trial, which also relies on the allegation that Leon planted hair evidence in this case. But Defense needs to put it on record as grounds for Garcia-Torres’ appeal.

 

[Niner]

@Rob Fladeboe kron4‏ @KRON4RFladeboe
3m3 minutes ago

#SierraLaMar murder crime scene investigator Herman Leon admits testimony in previous murder trial was “wrong” but not “false.” Defense still pushing for new trial. Expected sentencing unlikely to happen soon.



I thought the Judge already ruled on denying motion for new trial???

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/KRON4RFladeboe/status/940638947201376256

#SierraLaMar murder crime scene investigator Herman Leon admits testimony in previous murder trial was “wrong” but not “false.” Defense still pushing for new trial. Expected sentencing unlikely to happen soon. https://t.co/JjD2DjQlRm

 

[Niner]

Hey - there you are Emi! :wave:

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940641179569229824

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/JennaJourno/status/940633309729628160

 

[Niner]

can't see what you are posting - just a link....

 

[Niner]

so people can see what the tweets say....

@Rob Fladeboe kron4‏ @KRON4RFladeboe
1m1 minute ago

Defense motion for new trial in #SierraLaMar murder case returns to theme that evidence is tainted. Lead investigator Herman Leon questioned about “missing” envelope containing key hair evidence.


tracey kaplan‏Verified account @tkaplanreport
7m7 minutes ago

Leon has been lightening rod in this case, for good & bad. On good side: he’s cop who intuited that #SierraLaMar crime cd have been committed by same guy who tried in 2009 to kidnap 3 women. As result, Garcia-Torres’ fingerprint found on the Taser assailant dropped in 1 attempt.

On less positive side, there r these false testimony allegations. Also, turned out Judge Vanessa A. Zecher had represented Leon in a wrongful death case 25 years ago. Inmate Died from Taser and chokehold by Jail guards. Leon played peripheral role. But Def tried ... #SierraLaMar

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940643289853652992

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940644088843419649

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940644980158115840

 

[Niner]

tracey kaplan‏Verified account @tkaplanreport
5m5 minutes ago

...Def tried to boot Zecher off #SierraLaMar sentencing & from hearing new trial motion. But an Outside judge ruled against Def, said Zecher didn’t remember Leon out of the more than 12 defendants in wrongful death lawsuit and could be fair.

But Leon, a stocky but muscular man with a mustache, is cool as cucumber on stand so far. We’re deep in the weeds w/questions about envelope #31 and item #36. #SierraLaMar

Court not full. Sierra’s mother, father, ( + significant others) aunt, uncle and about 15 loyal searchers are in court waiting for the actual sentencing. #SierraLaMar

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940645975013580801

 

[Niner]

tracey kaplan‏Verified account @tkaplanreport
1m1 minute ago

#SierraLaMar ‘s mom Marlene LaMar told me she will give a victim impact statement. She brought poster-size photo portraits of a rosy-cheeked Sierra, looking Happy. Marlene testified during the lengthy trial abt calling 911 when S didn’t return home that Friday night.

Meanwhile, Garcia-Torres looks tense. He’s eating a blue button-down shirt, no tie. Flanked by Def attys Al Lopez, Brian Matthews & Bicka Barlow. #SierraLaMar

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940648569723265024

 

[Niner]

@Rob Fladeboe kron4‏ @KRON4RFladeboe
2m2 minutes ago

#AntolinGarciaTorres attorney Al Lopez suggesting hair evidence actually that of crime scene investigator Hermann Leon. Motion for new trial in play. Judge will rule on that amid “potential sentencing”


tracey kaplan‏Verified account @tkaplanreport
3m3 minutes ago

During trial, def claimed #SierraLaMar cd have run away, in part b/c she talked w a friend abt possibly being attracted to women. Luckily in this enlightened age/region, that supposed bombshell quickly fizzled out.

#SierraLaMar hearing now in quick morning recess.

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/tkaplanreport/status/940648706465869824

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/KRON4RFladeboe/status/940647590650974208