I posted about this here and here and here.
These are links to the story about the elderly woman, who was raped, sodomized and beaten to death, just a few blocks from where we live. Today, the PoS, went before the judge for his preliminary hearing. If you wonder what his lawyer is going to use as part of his defense, I give you the following quote:
Candler's attorney, Deputy Public Defender John Alan, questioned the medical examiner about whether consensual sex could have caused the genital injuries..
Consensual sex!? Did she also consent to having her skull fractured!? It's no wonder that people consider lawyers pond scum. I know that the guy is entitled to a fair trial, but to imply that the wounds may have been caused by "consensual sex"!? I feel terrible for her family. Having to sit in and hear all this.
The complete article will be in the extended entry:
Elderly slaying victim was raped, coroner says
By Denise Nix, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/25/2008 11:12:48 PM PDT
An elderly El Camino Village woman was raped and sodomized just before she was killed, a deputy medical examiner testified Thursday.
Dr. Ajay Panchal of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said Severa Madrona, 76, had fresh bruises and abrasions on many body parts.
Madrona's death on Sept. 18, 2007, was the result of blunt force trauma to the head, Panchal said, adding that her skull was fractured in four places. The most severe head injury was a 6-inch fracture at the base of her skull, he said.
Panchal was called to the witness stand by Deputy District Attorney Michael Gargiulo, head of the Elder Abuse Section, during a preliminary hearing in Torrance Superior Court for 25-year-old Thedward Candler.
The ex-convict from Gardena is charged with capital murder for Madrona's slaying. The hearing did not conclude Thursday, and was scheduled to continue Oct. 9.
Still to testify are DNA experts who are expected to link Candler to forensic evidence collected from Madrona.
Candler's attorney, Deputy Public Defender John Alan, questioned the medical examiner about whether consensual sex could have caused the genital injuries.
Most of them, Panchal said, are not consistent with consensual sex.
Another witness who testified Thursday was Pornchai Maichaimongkol, who said he was awakened around 7 a.m. the day of the crime by a noise outside his home in the 3100 block of West 152 nd Place.
He punched his fist into his hand several times to illustrate to Superior Court Judge Laura Ellison the thumping noise he heard.
Maichaimongkol opened his door and saw a woman, bloodied and gasping for breath, lying in his yard.
Madrona, a great-grandmother who lived with family a few blocks away, was on her morning walk when she was attacked.
It appeared from marks in the dirt outside the yard that she was dragged, testified one of the first sheriff's deputies to arrive.
Madrona's family reported her missing later that night.
Candler was arrested and charged about a month later. Investigators were led to him after matching DNA from the crime scene to a sample from Candler in the state's law enforcement database.
Candler's DNA was included after he was convicted for assault with a deadly weapon in 2001. He was sentenced to seven years and was paroled on Aug. 12, 2007, after serving six years.
Because he is charged with murder and the special circumstance allegation of killing during a rape and sodomy, Candler could face the death penalty.
Prosecutors will decide later whether they will seek capital punishment.
Candler appeared in court with his hands and feet in shackles. When the defense attorney asked Ellison to have the restraints removed, a bailiff informed the judge that escape plans were found in Candler's jail cell at Twin Towers.
Ellison would not allow him to be uncuffed.
Posted by Valkyre at September 26, 2008 11:38 PM