Crime & Safety

Naso Requests to Represent Himself in Multiple Murder Trial

Hearing was held this morning at Marin Superior Court.

Accused serial killer Joseph Naso appeared in Marin County Superior Court this morning and requested to represent himself in his .

"I have given this case a lot of consideration and thought," Naso told Judge Andrew Sweet. "I've been in my cell alone for the past few weeks."

Naso, 77, is charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of four Northern California women, two of whom were killed in the Bay Area. He has not yet entered a plea.

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Naso is suspected of killing Roxene Roggasch, 18, of Oakland, whose body was found on Jan. 11, 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.

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Officials throughout the country are looking at other open cases for possible links to Naso.

"I have a lot of experience with proceedings," Naso said at the hearing. "I have represented myself many times, mostly civilly, and prevailed."

Sweet gave Naso paperwork to fill out, but advised him to consider retaining an attorney.

"Mr. Naso, you are charged with rather serious crimes. You could face the death penalty," Sweet said. "It's contrary to your interests to act as your own lawyer."

Early in the hearing, Naso corrected the judge's pronunciation of his name, saying it is pronounced "Nay-so." Later on, there was some back-and-forth as Sweet explained to Naso that he wouldn't necessarily be able to change his mind if he chose to represent himself.

When Naso asked why, Sweet responded, "It's obvious you don't understand the law and I'm not going to explain it to you. Under some circumstances you cannot bring in counsel later."

Sweet set another hearing for May 5 on whether Naso will be allowed to act as his own lawyer.

A separate hearing is scheduled for May 25 on a media request to unseal documents related to the case.

Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian said after today's hearing that he is not surprised by Naso's request. "He has a constitutional right to represent himself," Berberian said. "It's a decision he has to make."

Berberian said he will decide whether to seek the death penalty after the attorney issue has been resolved. He said there has never been a case in Marin County in which a defendant facing the death penalty has represented himself.

Naso is being held in Marin County Jail without bail.

-- Bay City News


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