Judge Grants Naso's Request to Represent Himself

Marin County Superior Court Judge Andrew Sweet this morning granted accused serial killer Joseph Naso on charges of murdering four Northern California women between 1977 and 1994.

Sweet said he was convinced that Naso made the decision "knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily."

Naso is suspected of killing Roxene Roggasch, 18, of Oakland, whose body was found on Jan. 10, 1977, on White's Hill near Fairfax, and Carmen Colon, 22, who was found dead near Port Costa in Contra Costa County in 1978.

He is also accused in the deaths of Pamela Parsons, 38, and Tracey Tafoya, 31, who were killed in Yuba County in 1993 and 1994, respectively.

Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian said following today's hearing that the district attorney's office will just go through its normal process, and that Naso will be treated like anyone else.

Berberian said, "He's now his own attorney."

When asked if he thought Naso was mentally incompetent, Berberian said, "I have not seen any indication of that. I think he wants to represent himself. He's an
intelligent man."

Naso is expected to return to court May 27 to enter a plea.

- Bay City News