Arraignment continued for man accused of killing elderly woman
BY JASON KOTOWSKI Californian staff writer
The arraignment of a man accused of killing an elderly woman during a burglary was postponed for one week following a lengthy discussion between the judge and the suspect's attorney about whether a continuance was necessary.
Also, a probable cause declaration filed in Kern County Superior Court Wednesday says the 84-year-old victim died as the result of a "brutal stabbing attack," and the suspect was found two blocks away with a key to the victim's residence in his pocket.
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David Webster, the suspect in the murder of an 84-year-old woman, appears Kern County superior court with his lawyer Paul Cadman. The case was continued for one week.
The suspect, David Eugene Webster II, 31, was ordered held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree burglary.
Paul Cadman, of the Kern County Public Defender's office, told Judge Michael Lewis that Webster could not be arraigned Wednesday. Cadman said he needs time to conduct further investigation, to see if there's any conflict of interest and to find another attorney to assist with the case.
Two attorneys are necessary, Cadman told the judge, because the prosecutor's office has indicated it may seek the death penalty.
Lewis asked why Webster couldn't be arraigned Wednesday, with a preliminary hearing set at a far later date to allow Cadman to accomplish all his objectives. Cadman said he couldn't agree to that because he'd yet to advise his client regarding his plea options, and he'd only been in possession of the case for about an hour.
After lengthy debate -- during which Cadman said the prosecutor's office intended to "murder" his client, Lewis asked Cadman to cite rulings supporting his requests, and Cadman told Lewis at least twice that the judge had misunderstood him -- Lewis continued the arraignment to Jan. 25. Webster will enter a plea at that time.
Webster is accused of killing Margy Lou Licastro on Monday during an early morning burglary in the 1900 block of Baker Street, Bakersfield police reported. Licastro's husband, Joseph Licastro, called police shortly after 5 a.m. to report an intruder was in the home.
Joseph Licastro and Margy Licastro were in different parts of the house when the call was made, police said.
Webster was detained by police while reportedly committing another burglary, and was in possession of a right hand glove that's an apparent match to a left hand glove found in the Licastro backyard, according to the probable cause declaration. He was also in possession of a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine, the declaration said.
Webster proclaimed his innocence, but the declaration says "investigation revealed his undeniable involvement" in the attack.
In addition to police, Webster told KGET Channel 17 in a jailhouse interview that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and hadn't hurt anyone.
Cadman said in court Wednesday that Webster had given a "foolish interview" with the television station before receiving legal counsel.
Webster has declined an interview request from The Californian.
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