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Hawk team asks to move case out of Kings Co.

By Eddie Jimenez / The Fresno Bee

Monday, Jul. 20, 2009 | 09:17 PM

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The presiding judge in the Dave Hawk murder trial will hear defense motions today seeking to exclude evidence and hearsay statements and to move the trial out of Kings County.

Pretrial motions began Monday in the murder case against Hawk, 51, of Lemoore, who is accused of killing his ex-wife, Hanford resident Debbie Hawk. She disappeared in June 2006, and her body has never been found.

Defense attorneys have counted more than 900 stories in local media on the case, which has tainted the potential jury pool in Kings County.

"We're just asking for a fair jury pool of people without opinions one way or another," said defense attorney Mark Coleman.

Kings County District Attorney's Office prosecutors will have an opportunity to respond to defense motions today. Judge Daniel E. Creed could rule on the motions today or later.

Prosecutor Larry Crouch said he expects Creed will wait until jury selection begins before he rules on the change of venue motion.

Asked whether he thought Hawk can get a fair trial with Kings County jurors, Crouch said, "We certainly hope so, but we're going to find out."

Coleman said he expects the trial will last eight to 10 weeks. Attorneys on both sides said as many as 200 people have been identified as potential witnesses.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin July 27, and the trial is scheduled to start Aug. 10.


The reporter can be reached at ejimenez@fresnobee.com or (559) 622-2420.

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