Posted on 07/27/2006 1:14:45 PM PDT by SmithL
As the high-profile murder trial of Scott Dyleski begins with opening statements today in a Martinez courtroom, a number of personalities will take center stage as the jury considers whether the teenager killed his Lafayette neighbor, Pamela Vitale.
The trial will pit veteran Contra Costa County prosecutor Harold "Hal" Jewett, known as a formidable adversary in court, against Ellen Leonida, a lesser-known public defender with experience helping the homeless and refugees seeking asylum.
Managing it all will be Superior Court Judge Barbara Zuniga, a former deputy probation officer and prosecutor with more than 20 years on the bench.
After a trial of up to five weeks, a six-man, six-woman jury will decide the fate of Dyleski, 17, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of special-circumstances murder and burglary. If convicted, Dyleski, who has been charged as an adult, could face life in prison.
On Oct. 15, Vitale's husband of 11 years, noted defense attorney and television analyst Daniel Horowitz, found her dead at their Lafayette home on rural Hunsaker Canyon Road. She had been working on her computer before being stabbed and struck repeatedly in the head with a piece of wooden molding, authorities said.
Within days, Contra Costa sheriff's investigators arrested Dyleski, the couple's neighbor, and accused him of being involved in a scheme to buy marijuana growing equipment by using stolen credit-card information.
Acquaintances have described Dyleski as a typical suburban kid who later began to embrace the Goth culture, dying his brown hair black and wearing a trench coat.
Jewett, a 24-year veteran of the Contra Costa County district attorney's office, is expected to introduce witnesses who will discuss elements of Goth culture and music as it pertained to Dyleski.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
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I hope the circusmasters aren't too disappointed if this turns out not to be quite the high-profile trial they think it will be.
The gag order and not having Daniel on TV talking much have pretty much taken this off the radar except in a few places.
My heart goes out to Mario and Marisa and to others in Pamela and Daniel's families. It's going to be hard to listen to and to re-live, but I feel as though justice will triumph in this case.
Anybody heard anything about this case today? Do they even have court on Friday? This is California after all...
I think they finished opening statements yesterday. Testimony is scheduled is set to start on Monday.
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