richard ramirez attorney who defended him

by Mrs. Joana Pouros 7 min read

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How did Richard Ramirez die?

Ramirez, who never expressed any remorse for his crimes, died on June 7, 2013 of complications from B-cell lymphoma while awaiting execution on California's death row. Richard Ramirez had spent roughly 24 years on death row before his death from cancer in prison.

How did Richard Ramirez escape his father's violent temper?

Around this time, Ramirez began to seek escape from his father's violent temper by sleeping in a local cemetery. Richard was present on May 4, 1973, when his cousin Mike fatally shot his wife, Jessie, in the face with a handgun during a domestic argument.

What weapons did Ramirez use?

He used a wide variety of weapons, including handguns, knives, a machete, a tire iron, and a claw hammer.

How did Richard and Mike bond?

Richard, who had begun smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol at the age of 10, bonded with Mike through the two smoking joints and drinking beers, while Richard listened to his elder cousin’s gruesome war stories. Mike taught his young cousin some of his military skills, such as killing with stealth.

Where did Ramirez go to visit his brother?

On August 30, 1985, Ramirez took a bus to Tucson, Arizona, to visit his brother, unaware that he had become the lead story in virtually every major newspaper and television news program across California. After failing to meet his brother, he returned to Los Angeles early on the morning of August 31. He walked past police officers, who were staking out the bus terminal in hopes of catching the killer should he attempt to flee on an outbound bus, and into a convenience store in East Los Angeles.

Where was Ramirez born?

Ramirez was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 29, 1960, the youngest of Julián and Mercedes Ramirez's five children. His father Julián, a Mexican national and former Ciudad Juárez policeman who later became a laborer on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, was an alcoholic who was prone to fits of anger that often resulted in physical abuse towards his wife and children.

Did Ramirez marry Doreen Lioy?

Beginning in 1985, Doreen Lioy wrote him nearly 75 letters during his incarceration. In 1988, Ramirez proposed to Lioy, and on October 3, 1996, they were married in California's San Quentin State Prison. For many years before Ramirez's death, Lioy stated that she would commit suicide when Ramirez was executed.

Why were the murders dismissed in the case of Richard Ramirez?

In November, one of the murders and one of the felonies were dismissed in order to avoid another extra trial. This was due to the fact that all the prosecution had to go on was a delayed statement by a witness who had seen Richard Ramirez a block away from the crime scene.

Who was Ramirez' accomplice?

On May 25th, Sandra Hotchkiss took the stand, and claimed that she had been Ramirez’ accomplice during daytime burglaries in 1985, which had occurred during the time of his alleged murder sprees, none of which were violent. She also claimed he was amateurish and jumpy.

What was the Hernandezes trying to do?

The Hernandezes were trying to link some, if not all of the crimes Ramirez was charged with, to other cases and offenders. Prosecutor Philip Halpin was not impressed by this in any way, calling it an "onerous burden" to the police and then asked the court to reconsider.

Why did the Los Angeles Times say Ramirez would not be given a fair trial?

They claimed that Ramirez would not be given a fair trial, due to the fact that many middle class citizens in the area had an image of the Night Stalker breaking into their own homes.

How many people did Ramirez kill?

On that same day, the L.A TIMES reported that in jail, in 1985 Ramirez had referred to himself as a "super criminal," claiming he loved to kill and had murdered twenty people. "I love all that blood," a sheriff's deputy quoted him as saying. Halpin hoped to enter these statements as evidence.

What was the 15th murder in San Francisco?

A fifteenth murder in San Francisco with the potential for a trial in Orange County for rape and attempted murder was also hanging over his head. Two public defenders were appointed to Richard Ramirez at the beginning of the case but he disliked them at all.

How old was Richard Ramirez when he was arrested?

THE TRIAL OF RICHARD RAMIREZ. Upon his arrest Richard Ramirez, also known as “The Night Stalker” was twenty six years old and charged with fourteen counts of murder and thirty one other numerous felonies, related to his 1985 murder, rape and robbery spree. A fifteenth murder in San Francisco with the potential for a trial in Orange County ...

Who was the defendant in the Night Stalker murders?

Defendant and Appellant. On November 7, 1989, defendant Richard Ramirez was sentenced to death. for the so-called Night Stalker murders following his convictions of 12 counts of. first degree murder (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)), 1 one count of second degree.

What is a statement of defense counsel that defendant is incapable of cooperating in his. defense?

statements of defense counsel that defendant is incapable of cooperating in his. defense [citation] or psychiatric testimony that defendant is immature, dangerous, psychopathic, or homicidal or such diagnosis with little reference to defendant’s. ability to assist in his own defense [citation].”. ( People v.

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Overview

Ricardo "Richard" Leyva Muñoz Ramirez , dubbed the Valley Intruder (as his attacks were first clustered in the San Gabriel Valley), the Walk-in Killer, and most infamously the Night Stalker, was an American serial killer, serial rapist, kidnapper, child molester, and burglar whose crime spree took place in California between June 1984 and August 1985. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1989.

Early life and education

Ricardo "Richard" Levya Muñoz Ramirez was born in El Paso, Texas, on February 29, 1960, to Julián and Mercedes Ramirez, the youngest of their five children. His father Julián, a Mexican national and former Ciudad Juárez policeman who later became a laborer on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, was an alcoholic who was prone to fits of anger that often resulted in physical abuse towards his wife and children. Richard began smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol at th…

Murders

On April 10, 1984, Ramirez murdered Mei Leung, a 9-year-old Chinese-American girl, in the basement of his apartment building in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Leung was with her 8-year-old brother and reportedly looking for a lost one-dollar bill when Ramirez approached the girl and told her to follow him into the basement to find it. Once they were in the basement, Ramirez beat, strangled and raped Leung before stabbing her to death with a switchblade, hanging her part…

Capture

On August 30, 1985, Ramirez took a bus to Tucson, Arizona, to visit his brother, unaware that he had become the lead story in virtually every major newspaper and television news program across California. After failing to meet his brother due to him not being home, Ramirez returned to Los Angeles early on the morning of August 31. He walked past police officers, who were staking out the bus terminal in hopes of catching the killer should he attempt to flee on an outbound bus, an…

Trial and conviction

Jury selection for the trial began on July 22, 1988. At his first court appearance, Ramirez raised a hand with a pentagram drawn on it and yelled, "Hail Satan!" On August 3, 1988, the Los Angeles Times reported that some jail employees overheard Ramirez planning to shoot the prosecutor with a gun, which Ramirez intended to have smuggled into the courtroom. Consequently, a metal detector was installed outside, and intensive searches were conducted on people entering.

Romantic relationships

By the time of the trial, Ramirez had fans who were writing him letters and paying him visits. Beginning in 1985, Doreen Lioy wrote him nearly 75 letters during his incarceration. In 1988, Ramirez proposed to Lioy, and on October 3, 1996, they were married in California's San Quentin State Prison. For many years before Ramirez's death, Lioy stated that she would commit suicide when Ramirez was executed. However, Lioy eventually left Ramirez in 2009 after DNA confirmed …

Appeals

On August 7, 2006, Ramirez's first round of state appeals ended unsuccessfully when the California Supreme Court upheld his convictions and death sentence. On September 7, 2006, the California Supreme Court denied his request for a rehearing. Ramirez had additional appeals pending until the time of his death.

Mental health

Psychiatrist Michael H. Stone describes Ramirez as a 'made' psychopath as opposed to a 'born' psychopath. He says that Ramirez's schizoid personality disorder contributed to his indifference to the suffering of his victims and his untreatability. Stone also stated that Ramirez was knocked unconscious and almost died on multiple occasions before he was six years old and as a result "later developed temporal lobe epilepsy, aggressivity, and hypersexuality."