LAKE COUNTY – The California Supreme Court on Wednesday said it wouldn't review a change of venue request in the case of a young San Francisco man accused of the murders of his two companions.
Now that the trial will stay in Lake County, it will likely take place later this fall, said District Attorney Jon Hopkins.
On May 4, San Francisco attorney Stuart Hanlon filed a petition for review with the court on behalf of Renato Hughes, 22. That request was denied Wednesday.
Hughes is charged with the Dec. 7, 2005 deaths of Rashad Williams and Christian Foster. The District Attorney's Office alleges that Hughes, Williams and Foster broke into the Clearlake Park home of Shannon Edmonds, intent on stealing marijuana that Edmonds said he had a medical recommendation to use.
Edmonds reportedly shot Williams and Foster as they ran from the home. Hughes is charged with their deaths because he is alleged to have committed a felony act that could elicit a fatal response – in this case, the shooting deaths of Williams and Foster.
Since taking over Hughes' case in 2006, Hanlon has stated he doesn't believe Hughes can get a fair trial in Lake County because he is black and the county's population is overwhelmingly white.
On March 2, Judge Arthur Mann ruled against Hanlon's request to have the trial moved out of Lake County.
The following month, on April 10, Hanlon filed a petition to overturn Mann's ruling with the First Appellate District Court. On April 26, the appellate court ruled 2-1 against overturning Mann's decision.
Within weeks, Hanlon took his case to the state's highest court. As Lake County News previously reported, the court placed a temporary stay on the Hughes trial, which had been slated to begin during the second week of May, while they decided whether or not to review it.
After considering one file folder and three volumes of exhibits, the court denied Hanlon's petition for review of Mann's decision, court documents report.
Now it's back to Lake County. “Everything is just starting again,” Hanlon said.
Scheduling session for trial planned
The next step, said Hanlon, is try “try to find a way to pick a fair jury.”
Said Hanlon, “I'm convinced that Renato is innocent and the evidence will support that.”
He said he's hopeful that the jurors who will be chosen will be open to listening to the evidence he'll present in Hughes' defense.
Retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge William A. McKinstry will preside over the trial, said Hopkins.
Lake County's Superior Court judges requested a visiting judge for the trial because, when it was originally scheduled, “it looked like we might have to deal with three murder trials at the same time,” Hopkins explained.
Hopkins and Hanlon said they're scheduled to meet with McKinstry June 1 to talk about trial status and scheduling.
Hanlon said he's pleased with the choice of McKinstry, who be believes will “work with us to get a fair trial.”
He added that he believes Hopkins also wants to seat a fair jury for the trial.
“It really is going to be up to the three of us – the judge, the district attorney and myself” to ensure a fair trial, Hanlon said.
Scheduling is going to be a challenge for both the defense and prosecution. Both Hopkins and Hanlon reported busy summer schedules.
In Hopkins' case, James Roberts is scheduled to go on trial in September for the murder of Clearlake resident Ruth Donaldson. Those proceedings may spill over into October, Hopkins said.
“We could have gotten this trial in and done on our schedule if we hadn't had a stay granted,” said Hopkins.
He estimated the trial may not start until later in the fall.
Hanlon said there's no way to tell how long the jury selection process would last, although he suggested it could take at least four to five days.
Hopkins said they're planning to use a written questionnaire, which will take the defense and prosecution a little longer to go through. It actually will be quicker for jurors, said Hopkins, with them answering the questions and then returning at a later date.
At that point, they may question some potential jurors about trial publicity out of the presence of others, he said, although he doubts it will take up much time in the jury selection process. Hopkins said the actual facts of the case haven't been played out in the media; rather, it's been the circumstances regarding Hughes' prosecution.
Once the trial starts, Hopkins said it could finish in four or five weeks.
Defense still has issues with venue
Hanlon said he's still not happy about the trial taking place in Lake County. He said that none of his views about why it should be moved – namely, that he doesn't believe Hughes can receive a fair trial in a county with a mostly white population – have changed.
“I don't think it's the right place for this trial but it's not my call,” he added.
Still, trial location could become an issue again after jury selection, especially if they aren't finding jurors who they believe can be impartial, said Hanlon.
Hopkins countered, “The key is not whether he gets the answers he wants. It's not what they can get people to say, it's what the truth is that counts.”
Hopkins said Mann's ruling “took into account that we would evaluate the jury pool that we end up with and determine if it's impossible to get a fair and impartial jury.” If it is, they would need to reconsider moving the trial, he said.
Added Hopkins, “Stay tuned.”
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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