The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that a 77 year-old serial-murder suspect has been allowed to defend himself, as he has convinced a judge that he is capable and, wants to save the alleged $1 million in assets he owns.
J.N. won the approval to defend himself from Judge Andrew Sweet of Marin County Superior Court on May 6.
The judge listened to J.N. for approximately 15 minutes before sighing and saying, “All right.”
J.N. was arrested last month and stands accused of the serial murders of four Northern California women between 1977 and 1997.
After the judge acquiesced, J.N. asked for a 10-day delay before entering a plea. He stated that he needed the additional time to look at the “discovery”, or evidence, that has been collected against him to date.
The judge allowed him his request.
Since the end of April the judge has allegedly warned J.N. from seeking to represent himself. He warned J.N. that he is facing the death penalty, though prosecutors haven’t said that they are seeking that outcome.
S.N., in stating that he was experienced in contesting lawsuits and battling in child custody cases, stated that he had acted as “an officer of the court at one time” and that he would “make an effort to conduct myself as intelligently and accordingly as I can.”
In interviewing no less than three “pretty good attorneys”, S.N. said that he had received some good advice. He quoted, “My old friend Gerry Spence said the most important things are to prepare, to speak truth to power and that reason is power.”
Spence could not be reached for comment. He is known for television appearances and representing high-profile clients.
S.N. said that part of the problem is the restrictions placed between a jailed client and an attorney. He complained that the Marin County jail is too limiting in only allowing conversations to occur through windows and intercom systems.
He said that he found the situation “intimidating and restrictive.”
Though “not at liberty to reveal” all of his concerns “without revealing some of my defense” he felt that “there are issues in this case that I feel I must address personally.”
S.N. also claimed that he wants to hold onto his $1 million in savings and not spend it on a defense lawyer.
Prosecutors allege that S.N., though living in a Reno trailer at the time of his arrest, had squirreled away the approximate $1 million from his past work as a traveling photographer.
S.N. said, “I’m choosing not to spend my money foolishly.”
Judge Sweet, though warning S.N. that he was going against the “advice of the court”, told him, “I am convinced that you know what you are doing here.”
S.N. has been ordered back to court on May 27 to enter his plea on all four murder counts.
If you are facing criminal charges, a solid defense, laid out by an experienced attorney, is vital to your case. Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible for help!
