Good side of CHP killer up to defense to bring forward at penalty phase
By Carlos Alcalá, Sacramento Bee
Jurors in El Dorado Superior Court are likely to face a tide of emotional testimony as the penalty phase of the David Zanon murder trial gets under way this week.
Prosecutors are expected to present descriptions of Zanon’s victim – California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Russell – evoking the tragedy of a good man’s life lost.
No one disputes that he was a good man, said David Brooks, Zanon’s public defender.
Brooks, by contrast, will address his client’s troubled upbringing and will try to produce evidence that Zanon had a good side, despite his acknowledged criminal history.
“It’s going to be quite the roller coaster ride,” Brooks said.
Lots of people have tough lives growing up and many have awful parents. It is still a CHOICE to avoid help and hurt people. He didn’t ask for help; he just murdered others. Send him back to his maker.
I agree 100% with you JoAnn I get so sick of people trying to point the finger when they do something wrong.