Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 20, 2006 8:34:30 GMT -5
Trial date set for Stockton man facing death penalty
SCOTT SMITH
Record Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006
William Jennings Choyce Charged with rape, murder of three prostitutes.
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STOCKTON - A June 5 trial date was set today for William Jennings Choyce, a trash hauler from Stockton facing the death penalty on charges he bound, raped and murdered three prostitutes nearly a decade ago.
Choyce, 52, had been serving an 11-year state prison sentence for a 2002 conviction for raping two Oakland women. Investigators last year used DNA evidence to link Choyce to the slayings of two Stockton women and another from Oakland.
He is accused in the deaths of Gwen Lee and Lawanda Beck, both of Stockton, about one month apart in 1997. In 1988, Oakland police found Vic-toria Bell dead, and they accuse Choyce of killing her.
The women were found dumped, each with a gunshot to the head, according to records.
"It's clear you are seeking the death penalty in this case," San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda L. Lofthus said to the prosecutor, seeking confirmation.
"Yes," San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa replied.
San Joaquin County Deputy Public Defender William Fattarsi and private Oakland attorney Lorna Brown are representing Choyce, who has been held at the San Joaquin County Jail since the new charges were filed against him. His first court appearance in this county was in March.
Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com
SCOTT SMITH
Record Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006
William Jennings Choyce Charged with rape, murder of three prostitutes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKTON - A June 5 trial date was set today for William Jennings Choyce, a trash hauler from Stockton facing the death penalty on charges he bound, raped and murdered three prostitutes nearly a decade ago.
Choyce, 52, had been serving an 11-year state prison sentence for a 2002 conviction for raping two Oakland women. Investigators last year used DNA evidence to link Choyce to the slayings of two Stockton women and another from Oakland.
He is accused in the deaths of Gwen Lee and Lawanda Beck, both of Stockton, about one month apart in 1997. In 1988, Oakland police found Vic-toria Bell dead, and they accuse Choyce of killing her.
The women were found dumped, each with a gunshot to the head, according to records.
"It's clear you are seeking the death penalty in this case," San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda L. Lofthus said to the prosecutor, seeking confirmation.
"Yes," San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa replied.
San Joaquin County Deputy Public Defender William Fattarsi and private Oakland attorney Lorna Brown are representing Choyce, who has been held at the San Joaquin County Jail since the new charges were filed against him. His first court appearance in this county was in March.
Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com