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gwen
 Posted:
Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:12 am |
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 22409
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| gwen
Posted:
Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:59 pm |
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Woman Indicted in Calif. Girl's Rape-Slay
Sunday School Teacher Indicted on Charges She Kidnapped, Raped and Killed 8-year-old Sandra Cantu
AP) A San Joaquin County grand jury has indicted a Sunday school teacher on charges she kidnapped, raped and killed an 8-year-old girl and drugged two other people.
Melissa Huckaby broke down in tears Monday as Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus read the indictment against her. The reading came after prosecutors convened a grand jury last month to determine whether Huckaby would stand trial.
Lofthus said the grand jury transcript would remain sealed. No trial date has been set.
Huckaby, 28, is accused of killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, a playmate of Huckaby's young daughter. Sandra went missing in March in Tracy, her hometown in Northern California. A massive search for her ended 10 days later when her body was found stuffed in a black suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond a few miles from the mobile home park where she lived.
Defense attorney Sam Behar asked Lofthus to delay setting a trial date, saying he has not read the indictment or lengthy transcript because he's in the middle of another trial.
But Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa said he delivered a copy of the indictment to Behar's office earlier this month. "He's had a lot of time to read this indictment," Testa told Lofthus.
The judge then proceeded to read the indictment charges to a weeping Huckaby, who appeared in court with two fresh scratches above her right eyebrow. Neither Behar nor Testa would comment on the nature of Huckaby's injuries after Monday's hearing. A gag order barring attorneys, investigators and potential witnesses from commenting on the case remains in effect.
Huckaby in June pleaded not guilty to killing Sandra as well as to charges that she previously had drugged a 7-year-old girl and a 37-year-old man, whom police believe she had been dating. The girl and Huckaby lived in the same mobile park.
Huckaby is charged with two counts of furnishing someone a harmful substance and one count of child endangerment in the drugging cases.
In the case involving Sandra Cantu, Huckaby is charged with murder with the special circumstances of rape, kidnapping and lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under 14, which could make her eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Sandra was last seen on a surveillance camera skipping near her home just five doors down from the defendant.
On Monday, Huckaby entered the courtroom smiling, but her demeanor became tearful and somber as the indictment was read and debate on her next court appearance ensued.
Testa said the district attorney's office is treating the case as if it will be a death penalty case, but no decision is expected for at least two months.
Prosecutors convened a grand jury instead of holding a preliminary hearing in the case to ensure a speedy trial and avoid a possible change of venue. Testa also told Lofthus he wants a speedy trial because the case involves minors and should be made a priority.
Lofthus countered that it would be premature to set a trial within 30 days because Behar had not seen the indictment or the voluminous grand jury testimony.
"We need to do the case one time, and we need to have the case done right," the judge said. "The defense needs time to prepare."
Lofthus then scheduled a Sept. 10 hearing to discuss possible trial dates. Huckaby remains in the San Joaquin County Jail without bail.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/17/national/main5248105.shtml?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.1
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AKA Gagal_05
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 22409
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| Ber
Posted:
Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:04 pm |
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Just heard a brief report that Melissa Huckaby is not doing well in prison...but they couldn't elaborate much because of the Gag order..
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Joined: 06 Apr 2006
Posts: 1989
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| SavannahStar
Posted:
Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:52 pm |
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| Ber wrote: | | Just heard a brief report that Melissa Huckaby is not doing well in prison...but they couldn't elaborate much because of the Gag order.. |
That's okay by me.
The alternative is something like the FL Sunshine Laws. There, we get to read exactly what Casey purchases from the commissary every week while in jail. Whoop-dee-doo. 
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**SuperStar**
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
Posts: 23937
Location: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
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| Ber
Posted:
Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:14 pm |
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she is having some psychiatric problems, it seems and has refused some meals.
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Joined: 06 Apr 2006
Posts: 1989
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| GEL
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:55 am |
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A few links to updates on Melissa Huckaby:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crime-Examiner~y2009m9d25-Sandra-Cantu-case-Melissa-Huckaby-laughs-and-smiles-in-court-no-court-date-set
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...#ixzz0SDndKoLe
http://www.news10.net/news/local/sto...=67570&catid=2
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Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 1545
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| GEL
Posted:
Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:44 am |
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/crime-law-justice/crimes/criminals/melissa-huckaby-PECLB0002403.topic
Public defender for Calif. woman accused of killing 8-year-old seeks attorney experienced in death-penalty cases
STOCKTON, Calif. The attorney for the Tracy, Calif., woman accused of killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu is going full force in defending his client, asking that the indictment against her be thrown out and seeking an attorney experienced in high-profile...
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Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 1545
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