Prelims underway for the trial of Albert Gaxiola

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2011/05/27  35 Responses »
May 272011
 
Prelims underway for the trial of Albert Gaxiola

Two years and a week after the murders of 9 year old Brisenia Flores and her father Raul, by convicted Minuteman Shawna Forde and Jason Eugene Bush, the trial of the third defendant is scheduled to begin. Albert Gaxiola faces the same charges as Forde and Bush were convicted of in the Arivaca Arizona home invasion robbery. 225 prospective jurors were summoned to the Pima County courthouse to file out questionnaires containing 39 questions concerning their suitability to be called as jurors in the case. Next week, attorneys for both sides will meet with the Judge to review the questionnaires and decide who should be excluded from initial questioning. Opening statements should begin on June 7. Motions have been flying MORE

Jury Selection begins today in Shawna Forde murder case

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2011/01/11  1 Response »
Jan 112011
 
Jury Selection begins today in Shawna Forde murder case

Jury selection begins this morning at 10:30 a.m despite a last minute request yesterday for a continuance by Defense Attorney Eric Larsen, when he told Judge John Leonardo he doesn’t feel “emotionally equipped” to handle Forde’s defense in light of Saturday’s mass shooting. Larsen knew Judge John Roll as did practically every practicing attorney and Judge in southern Arizona, This follows Larsen’s attempt at a postponement after the revelation that Leland “Red” Sprout aka “Cockroach Hunter” could be a possible fourth suspect in the murders. In reality, Larsen has probably come to the conclusion that he will be on the losing end of this courtroom battle and wants to delay the inevitable as long as possible. Immigration Clearinghouse will be MORE

Forde Trial begins with questionnaire for prospective jurors

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2011/01/05  5 Responses »
Jan 052011
 
Forde Trial begins with questionnaire for prospective jurors

The circus that will be the trial for accused Minuteman child killer Shawna Forde begin this morning barely noticed as 225 prospective jurors showed up at the Pima County Courthouse in Tucson Arizona. The prospective jurors were given an 18 page questionnaire to fill out for the attorneys and those who aren’t immediately dismissed, based on their answers, will return to court on January 11 to answer further questions face to face. According to Kim Smith of the Arizona Daily Star:

Laine Lawless filed bogus ethics complaint because “Eric Larsen wasn’t nice to me”

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2010/12/21  3 Responses »
Dec 212010
 
Laine Lawless filed bogus ethics complaint because "Eric Larsen wasn't nice to me"

Accused Minuteman child killer Shawna Forde told Judge John Leonardo Monday, that she had nothing to do with the Arizona State Bar complaints filed against her attorneys recently and knew nothing about them until about a month after they were filed. Speaking by telephone from the jail, when asked if she was pleased with the representation of Eric Larsen and Jill Thorpe, Forde responded, “Absolutely 100 percent, and I always have been.” Forde chose the telephone hearing so she would not have to appear in Court since the victims wife and mother have positively identified her as being present the night of the murders of Raul Flores and his 9 year old daughter Brisenia. Forde also advised the Judge that MORE

Minuteman Shawna Fordes lawyers ask for change of venue

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2010/12/08  8 Responses »
Dec 082010
 
Minuteman Shawna Fordes lawyers ask for change of venue

Eric Larsen, one of the defense attorneys for accused Minuteman child killer Shawna Forde, as expected, filed a change of venue motion before Judge John Leonardo, claiming that there’s no way Forde can get a fair trial given the amount of pretrial publicity she has received. The motion was expected and usually made in high profile trials. According to reporter Kim Smith of the Arizona Daily Star, who has done an excellent job of following developments in the case;

Motions filed to separate trials of Minuteman Shawna Forde and Albert Gaxiola

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2010/10/07  3 Responses »
Oct 072010
 
Motions filed to separate trials of Minuteman Shawna Forde and Albert Gaxiola

Interesting news in the case of accused Minuteman child killer Shawna Forde and co-defendant Albert Gaxiola as lawyers for the pair filed motions in court last Monday seeking separate trials for the two, accused in the home invasion murders of 9 year old Brisenia Flores and her father Raul. The reasons given by Forde attorney Eric Larsen?

Minuteman child killer Shawna Forde makes surprise Court appearance

 Posted by Porter Corn on 2010/09/28  37 Responses »
Sep 282010
 
Minuteman child killer Shawna Forde makes surprise Court appearance

So surprising was Minuteman Shawna Fordes first live appearance in Court to face charges she directed the murders of Brisenia Flores and her father Raul in Arivaca Az on May 30, 2009, that there were no cameras in the courtroom to record the momentous event. According to reporters covering the Court, Forde, who’s gone from bottle blonde to brunette, appeared in a stunning outfit of black and white alternating horizontal stripes covering a rather blase’ orange jumpsuit. Forde was in Court to watch her lawyer, Eric Larsen lose a Motion in Limine, specifically, the motion filed last week to exclude the testimony of two Colorado Minutemen and FBI informants whom Forde met with in Colorado trying to recruit them for MORE

Update on Arivaca Arizona Minuteman Murders – Albert Gaxiola attorney look to excuse his participation in the murders

 Posted by on 2010/07/24  5 Responses »
Jul 242010
 
Update on Arivaca Arizona Minuteman Murders - Albert Gaxiola attorney look to excuse his participation in the murders

July 12 saw a status conference for Minuteman Shawna Forde and her cohorts, charged in the home invasion murder of 9 year old Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul on May 30,2009. The day belonged to Gaxiola as his attorneys filed a slew of motions citing mitigating circumstances. Jack Lansdale and Steven West also asked Judge John Leonardo to try Gaxiola separately from co-defendants Shawna Forde and Jason Bush. They claim there is no evidence Gaxiola was in the Flores house when they were shot and it would be unfair to try him at the same time as Bush, the shooter and Forde. Bush is set to be tried in November of this year, Forde and Gaxiola in January 2011. MORE