UPDATE: Gardena Attempted Murder Trial
After a couple days of hiatus, Lavell Gatewood's attempted murder trial is scheduled to continue today in Torrance Superior Court. Last week, jurors heard from various law enforcement and medical personnel who responded to the Gardena home where Gatewood shot his wife. The two were having ongoing marital problems that culminated with his confronting her with a gun and chasing her into a neighbor's yard on Dec. 8, 2006.
The prosecutor's last witness, a doctor who treated Denise Gatewood, is scheduled to testify this morning. The defense has indicated it plans to call Gatewood's sister to testify about Gatewood being despondent and suicidal. It's not clear whether Gatewood will testify in his own defense. His attorney wants the jury to believe he didn't have the mental capacity to commit attempted murder. Closing arguments could follow this afternoon or tomorrow. Depending on scheduling, I'll cover the closings or just wait until there's a verdict.
Meanwhile, on my last post about this case, some people who know the former couple have been leaving some interesting comments.
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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