Defense lawyer in deadly Metrolink crash is dismissed
Court Alerts
The Los Angeles County district attorney is seeking the death penalty against Juan Manuel Alvarez, who allegedly left his vehicle on the railroad tracks, where a commuter train crashed into it. The train derailed, causing a second crash with an oncoming train.
Alvarez allegedly has contended he was trying to commit suicide and didn't mean to hurt anyone. Witnesses reportedly said he poured gasoline on the vehicle, suggesting he was trying to ensure that it would catch fire or explode.
Pounders said lawyer Norman Kallen was already committed to two other death penalty defenses and could not devote enough time to the Alvarez case. The judge told defense lawyers that he didn't think it would be fair to "sit and wait until you're ready."
Neither side asked for the change, and Pounders noted that Alvarez had not expressed dissatisfaction with Kallen. The judge told the remaining defense lawyer, Michael R. Belter, to press ahead. A second lawyer will be appointed to help Belter.
Belter declined to say whether his client would plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Previous defense lawyers suggested that such a plea might by justified.
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