Posted on 01/24/2005 9:46:57 PM PST by AnnaZ
Samantha Runnion
- Five-year-old Orange County (California) girl, abducted as she played in front of her house -- on a quiet residential street -- the evening of July 15, 2002. Her body was found the following day.
- An autopsy revealed she'd been sexually molested and asphyxiated. Police suspected it was the work of a serial rapist who would strike again, partly because her body seemed to have been deliberately left where it would be quickly found.
- Based in part on tips from the public, Alejandro Avila was arrested on July 19, and charged with kidnapping, murder and sex crimes on July 22.
- The media has learned that forensic evidence ties Avila to Samantha's murder
- Avila could face the death penalty.
- Mitochondrial DNA: An explanation of the controversial evidence prosecutors want to use at Avila's trial
2nd DNA expert details blood tests
Press-Enterprise (subscription), CA -Jan 11, 2005
... testified Monday that his company tested a blood stain from Samantha Runnion, a dark brown hair, and nine hairs found in the car of Alejandro Avila, who is ...
December 13, 2004
At a pre-trial hearing, Edward L. Buse, a forensic scientist from the Orange County sheriff's crime lab, testified that scrapings found under Samantha's fingernails were consistent with Avila's DNA. The defense is arguing that the testing techniques are unreliable, and that this and other DNA evidence be excluded from trial (details). The judge will rule at a later date.The hearing is scheduled to resume January 10 and is expected to last two weeks, putting jury selection -- assuming the judge turns down an expected defense request for change of venue -- at the end of January.
Gregory Haidl son of a former Orange County assistant sheriff is expected to be retried this month on charges that he and two friends raped an unconscious 16-year-old girl in his father's Corona del Mar garage in 2002. Jurors in Haidl's first trial deadlocked in June, favoring acquittal on nearly every count.
Defense attorneys in court played several television news broadcasts about the alleged firing of a Taser by deputies at Greg Haidl in jail last month. Those reports claimed the shooting came after he violated jailhouse rules by sharing a candy bar with Alejandro Avila, charged with the kidnap and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion in 2002.
Nachreiner's attorney, John Barnett, said the subpoenaed information was vital to determine how it could affect his client's case.
"It would have terrible consequences for my client if [Greg Haidl] is linked with a renowned child killer," Barnett said.
That precious little girl. How soon we forget.
You are so good...I have been busy posting ugly dress photos here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1327794/posts
I sent a scathing note to the Riverside defense attorney who got this scumbag off earlier. He should have been in a prison cell and this precious little girl would still be alive.
There was a boy snatched off the street in the valley in '96 that affected me qute deeply as well. And then there was Beslan, of course. Each of these nightmares had something that reminded me of each of my three children, one each time. I have great empathy for the mothers of all involved.
I sent a scathing note to the Riverside defense attorney who got this scumbag off earlier.
Thank you, Anna Z.
I haven't forgotten about sweet little Samantha.
Let us all pray that justice is done with Avila.
"Actual Guilt, Actual Facts, Actual Hypocrisy"
Monday, July 22, 2002
By Kevin McCullough (kmc@wmca.com)
Far be it for me to complain about things when something appears different than what I had previously been told. I know, I know, I get the criticism all the time. "Kevin, you're just so analytical!" ". . . Why do you spend so much time, clarifying the details. . . " Silly, silly, me!
Oh well, forgive me, here I go again...
According to today's Washington Post, Chelsea J. Carter reports that the man who has been arrested in the killing of Samantha Runnion had been previously acquitted of another molesting charge.
Evidently the story goes like this: Alejandro Avila had been on the prowl before. In May of 1999, his ex-girlfriend (with whom Avila had lived), filed for a restraining order accusing Avila of stalking her. In her court statements she states repeatedly, "He has come to my home, my place of work, he is stalking me and follows me around town. . . "
In February of 2000, he was charged with not one, but two counts of lewd and "lascivious" behavior with the 9 year old daughter of his former girlfriend. At the same time he was charged with more "lascivious" behavior with a second girl - also 9 years of age. Following those charges, Avila was said to have threatened the mother of the second girl. These allegations all surfaced when the ex-girlfriend reported that her daughter had been molested from January to March.
It was at this time that the girl was living with her father in the same complex in Stanton California, where the Runnion family now lives. The ex-girlfriend's foster brother said that Avila had visited the girl in Stanton on several occasions in 1998-99.
So how was this guy even out on the street? Because of the expert legal work done by his attorney-at-the-time John Pozza, who brags on his website about the number of his "wins," defending people just like Avila.
A pet peeve of mine? Lawyers who get people off -- who are actually guilty. And let me be even more clear than that -- when I say "actually guilty", what I mean is "Did they do what they are accused of doing?"
My opinion is, "If he did it, put him away." If Pozzo didn't get a "win" for this multi-charged child molester -- Samantha Runnion would still be alive, and innocent today.
By the way, Mr. Pozzo's office number is 909-695-4550.
MIDI - TOM DOOLEY -- scroll down to Folk/Irish
Hang down your head, John Pozza
we wonder if you've cried
You freed a child molester
and now Samatha has died
Are you devoid of conscience
is winning all that counts
Is there blood on your paycheck
the hatred of you now mounts
When did you lose your soul
was in back in law school
You're a whore in a system
where there is no golden rule
Avila's a monster
well, you must be so proud
The family endures nightmares
in their sleep, they scream aloud
Hang down your head, John Pozza
are there things you won't do
Have your own children asked you
hey, daddy, is this stuff true
You confused the jury
what tricks did you employ
When he walked out a free man
did that fill your heart with joy
Though you claim you did your job
you weren't forced with a gun
May her death always haunt you
you must live with what you've done
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.