New developments in Huntsman, Curiel child murder, abuse case

UPDATE 3/4/2016 5:15 PM:

There was a shakeup in the Salinas child murder and abuse case after one lawyer handed the case over to two new attorneys being brought in.

Kay Duffy, who was appointed to represent murder suspect Tami Huntsman, is stepping aside after the Alternate Defense Office determined additional counsel was needed. Neither Duffy nor the new attorney, Bill McLennan, would comment after Friday’s hearing. The move came as a shock to many, including the judge, who planned to set a date for a preliminary hearing.
“The preliminary hearing is the hearing at which the state has to present enough evidence to show probable cause to bother having a trial,” said Jeremy Dzubay, Gonzalo Curiel’s attorney said.

Tami Huntsman and Gonzalo Curiel are accused of abusing and killing Delylah, 3, and Shaun Tara, 6, then hiding their bodies in a Redding storage facility. They’re also accused of abusing the children’s 9-year-old sister, who was found beaten in Plumas County. They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

Prosecutor Steve Somers told the court he wants to get the case underway as soon as possible. He plans to ask children who knew the victims to testify.

“I can’t tell you the concern that causes the people when I have children who are going to have to testify at trial, children who are going to have to testify about watching their brother and sister die before them,” Somers said.

A defense attorney, unrelated to this particular case, says because Huntsman could face the death penalty, it’s important for a lawyer to have time to prepare.

“There’s always a tension between the right to have a speedy preliminary hearing and a speedy trial and giving an attorney time to be able to sift through thousands and thousands and thousands of pages, read those pages, prepare for a preliminary hearing,” John Klopfenstein said.

Judge Pamela Butler has not signed off on the new lawyers yet. Another court appearance is set for Friday, March 11, when her decision could be announced and perhaps get an idea of when a preliminary hearing will happen. During the preliminary hearing, she will determine if there’s enough evidence to take the case to trial.

In the meantime, Curiel’s attorney says his client is adjusting to his new life at the Monterey County Jail. Curiel was transferred to the facility on Tuesday after turning 18 last month.

“We’re very happy with how the sheriff has kept him safe so far,” Dzubay said.

ORIGINAL POST:

There are new developments in the Tami Huntsman and Gonzalo Curiel child murder and abuse case.

On Friday, Huntsman’s current defense attorney, Kay Duffy, announced she was stepping down as lead counsel. Two additional attorneys have been brought in, however Judge Pamela Butler has not signed off on the change. She is expected to make a decision on Friday, March 11.

The new attorneys are asking for more time before scheduling a preliminary hearing against both suspects, while prosecutors are pushing to expedite the case.

In court, prosecutor Steve Somers announced some of the witnesses he plans to call during the preliminary hearing, including a sibling of the victims, 3-year-old Delylah and 6-year-old Shaun Tara.

Huntsman, 40, and Curiel, 18, are accused of abusing and murdering both children and hiding their bodies in a storage facility in Redding. They are also accused of abusing the children’s 9-year-old sister.

Huntsman and Curiel pleaded not guilty to murder, child abuse, and torture charges during a court appearance in January.