San Diego Criminal Attorneys Blog

Early morning on Monday, July 19, 2011, San Diego was shocked by the murder of a veteran police detective, Donna Williams 52, and her teenage daughter, Briana Williams 18. Both women were stabbed to death early Monday morning in their Rancho Penasquitos home. Residents in the area said they were startled by screams, at 1 a.m. Monday morning. Witnesses said screams were originating from the Williams home which pierced the silence. One witness who heard the screams of pain was so startled that she was scared to look outside to see what was happening.

Donna Williams, was a veteran Police Detective who had been working for the San Diego Police Department for over 30 years. She also worked as a child abuse investigator and recently on a high profile case of the 2002 murder of Danielle Van Dam. Co-workers and friends of Donna Williams stated that she was a very caring person with a warm welcoming heart.

Briana Williams know as Bree just graduated from Mt. Carmel High School and planned to continue her education at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco this fall. She also played softball for the San Diego Renegades a traveling softball team, and was a very talented athlete. Don Portugal her couch described her as a caring, hard working and talented athlete.

Mrs. Williams was found dead when police arrived on the scene. Police found Bree Williams outside on a walkway appearing to have fallen or was pushed from the second story. Bree also received severe wounds from a knife. When police entered the home they also found Donna Williams who had been stabbed to death. Arriving paramedics were unable to save Bree Williams who was dying when police arrived on the scene.

The primary suspect of the murder is Brian Williams, 24, who is the son of Donna Williams and brother of Bree Williams. He was found sitting calmly next to his dying sister when police arrived on the scene. He was arrested for suspected murder, and was taken peacefully and without resistance. Police commented that Brian Williams did not appear to be under the influences of any drugs during arrest.

Source:
RANCHO PENASQUITOS: SDPD veteran, Mt. Carmel grad identified as stabbing victims, North County Times

Eric Andreasen, 39, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by a San Diego Superior Court Judge. Katherine Parker, the victim, was murdered after spending a day shopping in Oceanside. She was returning to her car when Mr. Andreasen approached her in the parking lot, demanding money. Mr. Andreasen frustrated that she wouldn't give him money then stabbed her eight times. Police and paramedics arrived to the scene quickly but were unable to save the life of Katherine Parker.

There was no question that Mr. Andreasen committed the crime, there were several witnesses and he did not flee the crime scene. However, he plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Mr. Andreasen had been diagnosed with schizophrenia over ten years ago. Despite his clear mental illness a North County jury found him sane at the time he committed the crime.

Prosecuting attorneys passionately argued that because of Mr. Andreasens long history of criminal activity, he knew right from wrong. An understanding between right and wrong is required for for establishing the defendant's sanity in criminal cases.

Mr. Andreasen had been harassing women in the same parking lot for several weeks, asking for spare change or cigarettes. According to these women, Mr.Andreasen made them feel threatened and unsafe. Mr. Andreasen criminal history began in the 1990's which includes convictions for robbery, burglary, theft and battery. In 1999, he was ordered to register as a sex offender after a conviction for indecent exposure. In 2004, Mr. Andreasen was admitted into a mental hospital, where he spent 76 days.

Mr. Andreasen committed this murder 17 days after he had been released from parole.

This article can be found:
North County Times by Teri Figueroa

Murder conviction without a body? Yes! Joaquin Murrieta Martinez,age 32, was found guilty in the murder and dismemberment of Janina Hardoy, age 24, in her Oceanside home. Mr. Martinez a known gang member testified that he did not kill Ms.Hardoy but he did contribute to the dismemberment of her hands and feet, after she was dead.

Janina Hardoy moved to Oceanside in late 2004 after living in Northern California. A few months later in early February 2005 she was murdered. Only her dismembered hands and feet were found. The location of her body is still unknown even after a four day search. Law enforcement has speculated that the body is somewhere in the Santee Landfill. Police investigators are still unsure about the cause of death as they have been unable to examine the body.

Deputy District Attorney Geoff Allard told the jury that Martinez had killed Janina Hardoy during February 2005 because she had threatened to tell the police that Mr. Martinez and fellow gang members had robbed a series of banks from Bonsall, San Marcos, Carlsbad and Encinitas. Martinez and others were arrested and sentenced to prison for these robberies. Mr. Allard also stated that her body was most likely dumped in a garbage bin behind an Escondido doughnut shop, and then later picked up by trash truck and dumped into the landfill.

A witness testified that Ms. Hardoy and Mr. Martinez had a 'stormy' romantic relationship, and that because of this her house which she used to house drifters and homeless persons began to be filled with drug users and ex-cons. The witnessed also stated that once Crystal Meth was introduced the home went from a positive vibe to a very chaotic.

Ms. Hardoy's father and stepmother were sickened with the murder of their daughter and the way Mr. Martinez was able to speak about it so calmly. Katy Hardoy, Janina Hardoy's stepmother, stated "the callousness in the way he spoke about the act, it showed he had no soul". Obviously, the jury did not believe Mr. Martinexz's account of the events as they found him guilty of murder. This case will be appealed and the appellate courts will have to decide whether the murder conviction can stand!

You can find the whole story here:
OCEANSIDE: Man guilty of murdering woman he later dismembered, North County Times May 11, 2010

On Thursday, April 15th, a 49 year old boxing trainer was charged with the murder of a fellow coach, and attempted murder of a young boxer as well as injuring another. The defendant, Mark Anthony Diaz, plead not guilty to all the chargers including the killing of 52 year old Hector Gil, another coach at the boxing facility. Mr. Diaz faces 84 years to life in prison and his bail was set at TEN million dollars. The reasoning behind the high bail was due to evidence presented to Judge Hocket at the Vista Superior Court which included a death threat message from Mr. Diaz to Hector.

Evidence in the case suggest that Diaz was jealous and envious that Hector was taking his clients, especially those with potential, like Ricky Gutierrez a 21 year old boxer who fought his first professional match this year. This along with many other events present a strong case against Mark Diaz and his short temperament. One thing we have to look at before we make judgments is the evidence and its validity, did Mark Diaz really murder Hector Gil, and for what reasons.

You can read more about this article here:
VISTA: Gym shooting suspect charged with murder, North County Times April 15th 2010

Insane?! Carlsbad Murder suspect, Dennis Gluck, is headed to Patton State Hospital for up to three years or until he regains his mental competency. Mr. Gluck is accused of hacking his parents, Harry and Jean Gluck, to death in their bedroom on January 18th with a bladed instrument.

San Diego Superior Court judge Maguire, suspended the criminal proceedings including the two murder charges after reviewing a psychological doctor's report. Technically, Mr. Gluck could face the death penalty if his competency is restored due to the special multiple murder allegation.

Mr. Gluck fled to Mexico after the murders and was later captured about six weeks later. Although, he had previous threats and aggressive behavior towards his parents, he had none recently while living with them. A layperson may question, if he was smart enough or of sound mind enough to flee to Mexico after the killings, how could he be insane for court?

Mental competency is a complicated area in the criminal defense process which is often simplified and incorrectly portrayed in the movies. In California, under Penal Code sections 1367 & 1368, a person is mentally incompetent if as a result of mental disorder or developmental disability, he or she is unable to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings or to assist their criminal defense lawyer in the conduct of a defense in a rational manner. Legally, the term insane is not used! A competent criminal defense attorney can assist those defendants that may have competency issues.