05-29-2013, 06:15 PM
Today's Hearing - Results:
Isaiah Fowler denied a second degree murder charge and special allegation at a continued arraignment at the Calaveras County Superior Court Wednesday.
Fowler, 12, is accused of inflicting multiple stab wounds on his 8-year-old sister Leila April 27 that led to her death.
He was calm during the short hearing and appeared to be in good spirits.
Judge John E. Martin accepted the denial (this is the equivalent of "not guilty" for juveniles) and remanded the boy back to a juvenile detention facility in El Dorado County, where he has been held since his arrest.
Martin set the next court hearing for 1:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 31.
Following the hearing, Fowler's attorneys held a press conference in which they maintained their client's innocence and questioned whether he was fit to stand trial, due to his age.
For the full story, pick up a copy of Friday's print edition of the Calaveras Enterprise.
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My take:
The attorneys are likely looking for means to have the charges dismissed on the grounds of unfitness because, though they're also reportedly claiming his innocence, they contend that he's too young to stand trial and participate in his own defense.
The attorneys didn't motion for the boy to be released to his family today (at least it wasn't reported) and didn't object to him remaining in the juvenile detention facility for now (again, at least that's not mentioned in this early report).
Hopefully, more reports and the lawyers' press conference content will be available soon.
Isaiah Fowler denied a second degree murder charge and special allegation at a continued arraignment at the Calaveras County Superior Court Wednesday.
Fowler, 12, is accused of inflicting multiple stab wounds on his 8-year-old sister Leila April 27 that led to her death.
He was calm during the short hearing and appeared to be in good spirits.
Judge John E. Martin accepted the denial (this is the equivalent of "not guilty" for juveniles) and remanded the boy back to a juvenile detention facility in El Dorado County, where he has been held since his arrest.
Martin set the next court hearing for 1:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 31.
Following the hearing, Fowler's attorneys held a press conference in which they maintained their client's innocence and questioned whether he was fit to stand trial, due to his age.
For the full story, pick up a copy of Friday's print edition of the Calaveras Enterprise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My take:
The attorneys are likely looking for means to have the charges dismissed on the grounds of unfitness because, though they're also reportedly claiming his innocence, they contend that he's too young to stand trial and participate in his own defense.
The attorneys didn't motion for the boy to be released to his family today (at least it wasn't reported) and didn't object to him remaining in the juvenile detention facility for now (again, at least that's not mentioned in this early report).
Hopefully, more reports and the lawyers' press conference content will be available soon.