Trial Of Alleged Baseline Killer Begins

Arizona Man Faces 20 Charges Including Sexual Assault; Second Trial For Murder Charges Still Unscheduled

(AP)  Police say the Baseline Killer roamed neighborhoods in the Phoenix area for nearly a year, preying on people at random, killing nine and assaulting and robbing others. On Monday, a former construction worker charged in the case faces 20 charges including sexual assault, all but one stemming from an alleged attack on two sisters in September 2005.

The trial, expected to last until late August, is the first of two for Mark Goudeau. A second trial that includes nine murder counts has not yet been scheduled. Goudeau has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The prosecutor's sex assault case against Goudeau stems from a massive police investigation of the Baseline Killer, a serial predator named for the south Phoenix street where many of the early attacks took place.

Police say he struck between August 2005 and June 2006.

Goudeau, 42, who lived near where many of the attacks happened, was arrested on Sept. 6, 2006. Police said DNA evidence linked him to the attack on the two sisters a year earlier in a south Phoenix park.

That DNA link promises to be a major point of contention during the trial.

Defense lawyer Corwin Townsend said he is skeptical of the conclusions of government forensic analysts. He wanted to conduct his own test of a key sample, but DNA technicians used up the original swab they say linked Goudeau to the attack.

Townsend called for the case to be dismissed because of the lack of evidence available for an independent analysis. But Judge Andrew Klein rejected that request based on prosecutors' assertions that Townsend could still test a DNA "extraction" from the original police investigation.

Townsend also tried and failed to move the case out of the Phoenix area, arguing that intense media attention has tainted potential jurors. A jury was selected last week after prospective jurors were questioned about their attitudes about rape, race and the police.

Numerous police officers and forensic specialists, as well as the two victims, are expected to testify.

Both sisters now say they recognize Goudeau as their attacker. However, neither identified him in photo lineups before he was arrested and his mug shot was shown on TV. One of the sisters previously identified another man.

[freedomattorney]

Phoenix Police Brass Let Serial Killer Rampage to Protect Turf


Phoenix, AZ) A $22,000,000 Notices of Claim was filed today alleging intentional, reckless and grossly negligent conduct by members of the Phoenix Police Department and the Phoenix Crime laboratory that directly lead to 37 year old Romelia Vargas' murder on February 20, 2006 at the hands of the media labeled "Baseline Serial Killer," Mark Goudeau. The Notices of Claim was filed by Attorney Marc Victor on behalf of Alvin Vargas, the husband of Romelia Vargas and five of her six children. No word on whether other injured families are contacting Mr. Victor's Law Office to join in the law suit.
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[gunownerdan]

Criminals Prefer Unarmed Victims.
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