Cold Case Murder Suspect Goes On Trial

[mysteriew]

Thirty-seven years ago, in 1968, a 14-year-old babysitter was brutally raped and murdered in San Francisco. Today that murder case reached Superior Court. The man accused is William Speer, finally arrested because of DNA testing. This week, Speer talked exclusively with ABC7 from the county jail.

William Speer, defendant: "I can't discuss these other things."

William Speer is 63 years old. That means he was only 25 when, police say, he raped and murdered 14-year-old Linda Harmon who was babysitting for a neighbor.

Speer is representing himself after firing at least three attorneys.

William Speert: "In 1968 I was legally insane. I was not who I am today. I was in a different world. I was in a world, there were times when I had blackouts."

Still, Speer says despite the blackouts, he's sure he didn't kill Harmon.

William Speer: "My position is I didn't murder anybody.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=3573687

[Bobbisangel]

If this guy wants to have any chance at all during the trial he better get himself another attorney and listen to what his attorney advises. He is a fool if he thinks he can defend himself. Oh well, let him defend himself...if they have DNA that says he committed the murder then he committed it. Hard to beat DNA.

Is the guy saying that he was an active alcoholic back then and had blackouts so he doesn't remember anything about a murder? I wonder what his defense will be or is it going to be...."I wasn't there and didn't do it?" Sounds like he is headed for the big house to me.

I hope that his arrest brought some kind of satisfaction or peace to this girl's family. They have been waiting a long time for justice.

[mysteriew]

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