Judge Reduces Murder Suspects’ Bail in Slaying of College Student
By Sarah Harper
Published on December 15, 2008
On December 10, San Diego judge David Szumowski reduced the bail (from $2 million to $1 million each) for four suspects in the October murder of Luis Santos, a 22-year-old San Diego State University student. The suspects, Esteban Nuñez, Rafael Garcia, and Leshanor Thomas, all 19 years of age, and Ryan Kelly Jett, 22, had been awaiting a preliminary hearing since their arrest on December 2nd.
According to reports by the Los Angeles Times, Szumowski's decision was backed by Nuñez's lawyer and his family, including his father, former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez. Fabian denied using his political status to his son's advantage. Estevan was expected to make bail and be released from jail the same night his bail was reduced.
Szumowski's decision was disputed by Deputy District Attorney Jill DiCarlo, who submitted MySpace images of Nuñez stabbing or preparing to stab small animals and argued bail should remain at $2 million per defendant.
Nuñez and the other three co-defendants allegedly murdered Santos, and injured three other students, in an alleged knife fight on party goers near the University on October 4. They are charged with murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon. On December 4, they pleaded "not guilty".
A preliminary hearing is set for March 18.
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