A.V. MURDER TRIAL SENT DOWNTOWN.Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer The upcoming murder trial of Raymond Jennings, accused of slaying a female college student in 2000 at a Park and Ride lot in Palmdale, was transferred Monday to a downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area. The sprawling, multi-centered megacity is such that its downtown core is often considered just another district like Hollywood or Superior Court after a judge said it would likely take longer than three weeks to complete. Typically, trials lasting longer than three weeks are sent to courts elsewhere in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County because the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Courthouse lacks adequate staffing and security for a lengthy trial. Prosecutors argued that the Jennings trial could be finished within 15 court days, but defense attorney David Houchin argued that the trial would require about four weeks, making it what court officials call a ``long- cause'' matter. ``I don't think anybody with an objective view of the case would think it was anything but long-cause,'' said Houchin. ``This case has as many issues as most death penalty cases that I have tried.'' Jennings, a 32-year-old Iraq war Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. veteran arrested in December while home on leave, is accused of murdering Michelle O'Keefe at a Park and Ride lot he patrolled in 2000 when he was a security guard in Palmdale. He does not face the death penalty. After a hearing on Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy-Powell ruled the Jennings trial is a long-cause matter. The decision came a week after Lancaster Superior Court Judge Thomas White Thomas White can refer to:
n. A proceeding held before an official trial, especially to clarify points of law and facts. adj. 1. Of or relating to a pretrial. 2. local publicity that Jennings' attorney said would deny him a fair trial. Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake said he disagreed with the Kennedy-Powell decision to move the trial from the Antelope Valley and intends to ask for reconsideration of the issue. ``There's a vested community interest in trying crimes in the judicial district where they occurred, especially more serious cases like murder cases,'' Blake said. ``I disagree with Verb 1. disagree with - not be very easily digestible; "Spicy food disagrees with some people" hurt - give trouble or pain to; "This exercise will hurt your back" the court taking this administrative action right on the heels of a change-of-venue motion being denied.'' Jennings remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. O'Keefe, an 18-year-old Antelope Valley College Antelope Valley College is a comprehensive community college located in Lancaster, California, USA. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. student, was found shot to death behind the wheel of her Mustang in the lot on Avenue S, where she had returned for her car after leaving it parked while she rode with a friend to work as an extra in the taping of a music video for rapper Kid Rock. Jennings became a suspect within months of the shooting. He was named in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in December 2000 by O'Keefe's parents but was not criminally charged until prosecutors filed the case Nov. 15. Jennings told investigators he heard gunfire and watched the Mustang roll backward out of a parking space but didn't see the killer because his view was blocked by a parked van. Prosecutors said they initially found insufficient evidence insufficient evidence n. a finding (decision) by a trial judge or an appeals court that the prosecution in a criminal case or a plaintiff in a lawsuit has not proved the case because the attorney did not present enough convincing evidence. to file criminal charges, but later concluded proceedings in the civil case changed that. The gun that killed O'Keefe has never been found. In May 2002, members of a local scuba diving club combed the murky bottom of nearby Palmdale Lake but turned up nothing. karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com (661) 267-5744 
i'm deeply sorry about the OKeefer's death! But you've got the wrong person!!! You don't really have no proof!! there pulling teeth at this point!! The real killer is out there somewhere, making the the athorties look a little ....! well that speaks for itself. Mr. Jennings has lost a lot, out of this!! He has children also, who miss an need there father! god bless him!! also i pray for the OKeefer's family. May they get some peace. But just don't pick a person, who was at a place of bussiness tat was doing his Job!! why??????????? |
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