Rathbun’s Lawyer Seeks Change of Venue for Trial
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The attorney for accused killer Charles E. Rathbun filed a motion Friday seeking to have Rathbun’s trial moved out of Los Angeles County, saying that intense media coverage and comments by law enforcement officials have hopelessly tainted the area’s jury pool.
“We feel it will be impossible to find prospective jurors in this county who are not already convinced that he’s guilty because of what they’ve seen and heard in the media,” said Mark J. Werksman. “The community has been treated to a steady drumbeat of negative publicity about Mr. Rathbun.”
Rathbun, 38, is accused of sodomizing and murdering model Linda Sobek during a November photo shoot. He has pleaded not guilty.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen Kay could not be reached for comment.
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