Accused murderers seek change of venue
Citing news coverage of their request to be let out of their plea bargains for the burning death of a local woman, halfbrothers Franklin De la Cruz and Luiz Gomez want a change of venue for their future hearings.
The men, who entered guilty pleas last month for the 2003 burning death of Gina Thompson, 35, are both serving 36-year sentences at 100 percent at the state prison in Tiptonville. They, along with Ruben Pimentel, who is serving life in prison as the alleged ring leader in the murder, entered plea agreements on the same day. The half-brothers have since asked to rescind their pleas, saying they were not aware of all their rights at the time of the agreement.
The brothers appeared during their plea bargain announcement with interpreters while Pimentel, versed in English, did not ask for an interpreter. Pimentel has not yet filed a motion for post conviction relief. All three had faced the death penalty for the crime, a request which was dropped in light of their plea agreements.
In papers sent to the Southern Standard by De la Cruz and Gomez Tuesday, the brothers say prosecutors should not have commented on the pending motion to back out of their plea agreements. In the story of Aug. 1, District Attorney General Dale Potter responded to the motion for post conviction relief, saying he felt the plea agreement was made clear to the brothers by the court and their attorneys before the plea was accepted.
The motion for change of venue claims there may be undue excitement and prejudice toward the defendants should future hearings be held in Warren County.
A date for hearing the motions and change of venue has not been set.