PROSECUTOR REVEALS LATE START ON CASE COLLEAGUE'S VACATION FORCED SWITCH JUST BEFORE ARSON TRIAL.Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer PASADENA - A day after a retired engineer was acquitted of attempted murder In the criminal law, attempted murder is committed when the defendant does an act that is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the crime of murder and, at the time of these acts, the person has a specific intention to kill. in connection with a fire at his neighbor's home, the prosecutor revealed Tuesday that he had taken over the case just days before trial because the original prosecutor went on vacation. Gary Glazier avoided a possible life sentence after the jury acquitted him of the most serious charges involving a 2004 fire at the La Crescenta home of Alfred Artsvelyan and his family. The same jury deadlocked dead·lock n. 1. A standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions. 2. Sports A tied score. 3. on charges involving a second fire at the same home, and Glazier will be retried re·tried v. Past tense and past participle of retry. on those allegations. Former neighbors of Glazier breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday after a judge denied him the chance to bail out of jail, where he has stayed since his arrest in May 2004. After Monday's verdict, one juror juror n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists of potential jurors are chosen from various sources such as registered voters, automobile registration or telephone directories. said the investigation was incomplete and that there just wasn't enough evidence offered to convict. Prosecutor Robert Knowles said Tuesday that he took the case Nov. 3, four days before trial, because the original prosecutor, Robert Cheleden, had previously booked a vacation and couldn't change his plans. So Knowles faced off against Glazier's high-profile attorney, Robert Shapiro This article is about the lawyer. For the economist, see Robert J. Shapiro. Robert Leslie Shapiro (born September 2, 1942 in Plainfield, New Jersey), is a high-profile attorney who is most notable for being part of the defense team which successfully defended . Cheleden thought the case would begin later than it did, so he bought tickets for his getaway, Knowles said. Cheleden ``then discovered to his surprise that there would be this conflict.'' Knowles had followed the case as it had progressed, and after learning that Cheleden was going on vacation volunteered to take it. ``More time is always better, it's true,'' Knowles said. ``But I didn't feel disadvantaged, primarily because the detective on the case was so good.'' Cheleden could not be reached for comment Tuesday because he is out of the office until Nov. 28. Shapiro asked Superior Court Judge Janice Claire Croft CROFT, obsolete. A little close adjoining to a dwelling-house, and enclosed for pasture or arable, or any particular use. Jacob's Law Dict. to set bail at $50,000 for his client, arguing that Glazier has no prior arrests. But Croft denied the request, agreeing with an earlier judge who denied bail because of the nature of the charges and after hearing from residents who said they felt threatened by Glazier. Shapiro unsuccessfully argued that the judge's original decision was based on bad evidence. ``The things that were heard by the magistrate were things that were later found to be not true,'' he said. Before Glazier was led away in handcuffs hand·cuff n. A restraining device consisting of a pair of strong, connected hoops that can be tightened and locked about the wrists and used on one or both arms of a prisoner in custody; a manacle. Often used in the plural. tr.v. , the judge set a Jan. 10 date for his retrial retrial n. a new trial granted upon the motion of the losing party, based on obvious error, bias or newly-discovered evidence. (See: newly-discovered evidence) . La Crescenta retiree Bob Lewis, 77, who lives across the street from where Glazier used to live, said he is afraid Glazier will retaliate. ``We're so worried about that we're really considering moving from this neighborhood and maybe out of the state,'' Lewis said. Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com |
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