Judge orders teen girl, boyfriend in Northern California to be tried in death of girl’s mother
By APThursday, January 7, 2010
Calif. judge orders teen, lover tried for murder
PLACERVILLE, Calif. — A California judge has decided a 15-year-old girl and her 20-year-old boyfriend should be tried in the slaying of the girl’s mother.
El Dorado County Douglas Phimister ruled Thursday that there is enough evidence to try Tylar Witt and Steven Colver in the murder of 47-year-old Joanne Witt.
The two are charged with killing Witt in June at her home in El Dorado Hills, about 40 miles east of Sacramento. Phimister earlier ruled that the teen can be prosecuted as an adult.
Prosecutors presented evidence that the two planned to marry and tried to hide their relationship from the girl’s mother.
The teen’s public defender, Mark Ralphs, says toxicology reports show his client did not drug her mother before she was murdered, as prosecutors have alleged.
The pair are to be arraigned Jan. 22.
