CARO MAY USE INSANITY DEFENSE MOM ACCUSED OF KILLING 3 OF HER SONS.

Byline: David Greenberg Staff Writer

VENTURA - The attorney for a Santa Rosa Valley housewife accused of fatally shooting three of her school-age sons said Tuesday that she will probably use the insanity defense for her client.

Deputy Public Defender Jean Farley said mental health experts will have completed their evaluation of Socorro ``Cora'' Caro within 30 days, at which time a decision will be made whether to change the not-guilty plea.

``That is something that's being considered right now,'' said Farley, who entered the not-guilty plea at Caro's Superior Court arraignment Tuesday. ``(The decision) needs to be done with a complete open mind. I'm really not in a position (yet) to discuss my client's state of mind with anyone.''

Judge Art Gutierrez scheduled an Oct. 23 trial for Caro, who is charged with the Nov. 22, 1999, shooting death of Joseph, 11; Michael, 8; and Christopher, 5. She reportedly then fired a single shot into her head.

Following an extensive hospitalization, which included two brain surgeries, she survived. Her youngest son, 2-year-old Gabriel, was not harmed in the shooting spree.

The mother remains held without bail at Ventura County Jail.

Caro was also given a July 7 deadline to provide a sample of her handwriting, which prosecutors are expected to compare with letters she reportedly wrote prior to the shootings.

One letter was addressed to her husband, Dr. Xavier Caro, a rheumatologist who works in Northridge, lamenting that their marriage appeared to be over, court documents show. ``It pertains to the evidence that may be introduced in the trial,'' prosecutor James Ellison said of the writing sample.

Farley said she was ``guardedly optimistic'' that District Attorney Michael D. Bradbury will decide against seeking the death penalty after they meet later this month to discuss the matter.

Caro has no prior criminal history and has been described by family and friends as a loving, devoted mother, she said.

``It would be an extraordinarily bad decision in this case,'' Farley said. ``This type of extraordinary punishment is not dispensed except when it's legally required.''

Ellison would not comment on the death penalty issue except to say that Bradbury meets with defense attorneys on all cases where capital punishment is an issue.

``It's his decision to make,'' Ellison said. ``He will make that decision in a timely fashion.''

He added that the decision would have already been made by now had Caro not been forced to change her defense counsel.

Attorney Richard Plotin dropped off the case in April after a family law judge, John Smiley, ruled that she could not dig into the family's joint estate worth more than $1 million to pay for a private attorney.