Crime & Safety

Judge Declines to Postpone Naso Hearing

Alleged serial killer had asked for more time to find an advisory attorney; hearing set for Sept. 6, with prosecution ready to call 49 witnesses.

Marin County Superior Court Judge Andrew Sweet today denied 's request to postpone his Sept. 6 preliminary hearing.

Naso, 77, of Reno, is four Northern California women between 1977 and 1994.

This morning, Naso asked that the hearing be continued to allow him more time to find an advisory attorney to assist him, although he said he in the trial.

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"I decided I do need legal counsel in this case," Naso said.

The Marin County District Attorney's Office objected to continuing the hearing, arguing that the generalized statements Naso made in his request did not constitute good cause to postpone it.

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Sweet agreed with the prosecution and denied the motion, then set Sept. 2 for a status update on Naso's request for an attorney and to confirm the Sept. 6 hearing date.

Deputy District Attorney Rosemary Slote said the prosecution intends to call 49 witnesses, and estimated that the hearing would take 10 court days.

Naso said he has contacted a half-dozen attorneys about assisting him on an advisory level.

One of them, Douglas Horngrad, said after the hearing he would possibly be interested in representing Naso, but not as his advisory counsel.

"I'm open to the possibility. Even a lawyer who presses his own suits has an idiot as a dry cleaner," Horngrad said.

Naso is charged with the murders of Roxene Roggasch, 18, of Oakland; Carmen Colon, 22, an East Bay resident; and Pamela Parsons, 38, and Tracey Tayofa, 31, both of Yuba County. Roggasch's body was found near White’s Hill in Fairfax in 1977 and Colon's was found near Port Costa in Contra Costa County in 1978.

--Bay City News Service


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