Convicted murderer's sentencing delayed for 12th time, motion to remove defense attorney

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Justice was delayed successful tribunal connected Thursday for astatine slightest the twelfth time.

Convicted murderer Daniel Cervantes has been successful region jailhouse for 11 years, with the past 2 spent awaiting sentencing for sidesplitting his girlfriend.

Again and again, his defence squad has succeeded successful delaying the case.

His lawyer is moving done a question for a caller trial. And successful the latest twist, she has subpoenaed the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health.

County attorneys are present warring the petition for what they accidental are confidential records.

"As you see, this lawsuit has benignant of developed a beingness of its own," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Arlan Harrell said.

The lawsuit began successful April of 2013, days aft prosecutors accidental Cervantes changeable his Miriam Corona successful the backmost of her caput portion she was sleeping connected the sofa of her Central Fresno home.

Jurors yet recovered him blameworthy of execution successful 2022. But successful April of this year, defence lawyer Erin Ormonde said caller adept grounds would person changed that verdict.

Ormonde asked for a one-month hold to unafraid the experts.

The lawsuit has since been continued 3 much times, including connected Thursday.

"It's being acceptable implicit due to the fact that your attorney, Ms. Ormonde, is not disposable today," the justice told Cervantes.

Court records amusement Ormonde has been absent from the tribunal lawsuit since May.

Other attorneys person been filling successful for her.

Now, determination is simply a question for Ormonde to retreat from the lawsuit altogether.

"The court's going to request to inquire arsenic to whether oregon not the defence lawyer is going to beryllium capable to correspond this defendant," Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi said.

He called the repeated delays antithetic and said the unfortunate and suspect person a close to speedy justice.

"Justice delayed similar that is truly justness denied," helium said. "There's got to beryllium a mode to get this lawsuit resolved, and get it resolved quickly. But, with the assurance that the defendant's rights are protected."

The lawsuit has gone connected for truthful agelong that Cervantes is present the county's longest-serving inmate successful the region jail.

Cervantes volition beryllium backmost successful tribunal connected August 15 for a presumption update and again successful September.

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