Accused Freeway Killer’s Trial Slated Monday
by Los Angeles (AP)
William Bonin, a truck driver charged with the sex murders of 12 young men and boys in the Freeway Killings case, has been ordered to stand trial next Monday, whether or not he decides to be his own lawyer. In a last-minute development, Bonin failed Monday in a bid to hire a new lawyer -a move which would have delayed his trial at least four months. Superior Court Judge William Keene said he believed the request on the day he was set for trial was merely a delaying tactic by the defendant. “I’m deeply concerned with the fact that I think this is a ploy by this defendant to delay this matter in going to trial,” Keene said. “I am convinced that the ends of justice would be thwarted by his attempt to substitute an attorney 14 months into this case.”
The attorney who sought to take over Bonin’s defense, William Charvet, said he would appeal the judge’s ruling to a higher court a step which, in itself, could cause further delays while the appeal is pending. Bonin, explaining why he wanted to replace his court-appointed lawyer, Earl Hanson, told the judge: “I feel I have a much better rapport with Mr. Charvet than I have with Mr. Hanson. There are certain things I feel I cannot discuss about the case with (Hanson).” When the judge asked what the problem was between him and Hanson, Bonin replied, “personal bias.” But the judge appeared more convinced of the motive suggested by the prosecutor – that Bonin wants to delay his trial in hopes that witnesses will disappear or refuse to testify as time passes. “Many of the witnesses are prior victims of Mr. Bonin,” said Deputy District Attorney Sterling Norris.
“They were reluctant to come forward in the first place and now they are going to be faced with a third continuance.” “This is nothing more than a dilatory tactic,” said Norris who alleged that Bonin has been trying to influence a key witness in the case, admitted accomplice James Munro, not to testify. Munro, who Norris said has an IQ of 80, was one of several young men charged with Bonin in the grisly string of sex killings which left the nude bodies of young men dumped near freeways in Southern California. The bodies of 44 young men and boys have been found similarly dumped in the last eight years, but authorities say the killings may not all be related. Bonin is charged with 12 slayings in Los Angeles and seven in Orange County including three covered in the Los Angeles charges. Bonin was arrested while he was allegedly sodomizing a young man.
Norris played a tape recording in court Monday of a phone conversation between Bonin and a friend in which Bonin discussed his effort to change lawyers and said he expected a six-month continuance in the case. He also said that if his request was rejected, he would “go pro per,” act as his own lawyer. Although the tape did not show any obvious delaying tactics, Norris said it supported his contention that Bonin wanted to stall the trial for strategy reasons. Hansen who has represented the 34 year-old Bonin since his arrest in June, 1980, told the judge he believes Bonin appointed by the court.” sincerely wants a new lawyer and isn’t dilatory tactics. “I was never the attorney of choice for Mr. Bill Bonin,” Hanson said. “I was appointed by the court.” An additional factor in Keene’s denial of the request was a potential conflict of interest involving Charvet. The attorney said he was contacted earlier by Munro and visited him briefly to discuss his possible representation.
The prosecutor said Charvet thus had an attorney-client, relationship with Munro and would have a conflict in cross-examining him on the witness stand. Charvet insisted there is no conflict and said outside court such a ruling would improperly confer the attorney-client privilege “on anyone who visits someone in jail.” He said this would be a key point in his appeal. Norris accused Charvet of agreeing to take over Bonin’s defense in return for rights to a book about the case. Charvet did not say whether a book deal exists, but he said it played no part in his decision to take the case. When Keene rejected Bonin’s bid for new lawyer, the defendant said he might like to represent himself, and would let the judge know for sure on Monday. Keene told him sternly that no matter what he decides about representation, the trial will be delayed no further.
“If you want to act as your own lawyer, it will be with no further continuance,” Keene said as Bonin stood before him prison blue jumpsuit. “You will go to trial next Monday, Mr. Bonin,” the judge said. “You think it over between now and then.” The killings in which Bonin is charged involve victims between the ages of 13 through 18. Two other men have pleaded guilty taking part with Bonin in some of slayings and another young man, William Ray Pugh of Norwalk faces similar charges. Another admitted accomplice, Vernon Butts, was found hanging in his jail cell last January, an apparent suicide.
