Questions continue in wake of murder suicide

The superior court judge who approved a deal that allowed Curtis Bernard Harris to be released from jail after he was convicted on a weapons charge in the kidnapping of his estranged wife Monica Thomas-Harris would not comment on the case Monday.

Harris, 34, of Chino and his wife Monica Thomas-Harris, 37, were found dead Saturday morning from gunshot wounds at a Whittier motel in an apparent murder suicide

Superior Court officials said the judge, appointed to the bench by Gov Arnold, was constrained from discussing cases she has heard.

Even though the victim's family is steaming mad about the whole thing, Harris' attorney said don't blame Judge Tia Fisher for the incident.

This from RL's story:

Arthur Lindars, said Harris asked for the month of freedom because he needed time to sell a couple of cars to raise money for his mortgage, so he wouldn’t lose his house while he was in prison.
Lindars said he did not believe Harris would try to harm his wife during the month he was out of jail.
“I’m sure the District Attorney’s office didn’t feel there was a danger either, or they wouldn’t have agreed to it,” he said.
Lindars, who called the scenario “everybody’s worst nightmare,” said the judge shouldn’t bear responsibility for the tragedy.
Since he and the District Attorney agreed to the release, the judge had no reason to deny it, he said.
“Whenever the DA’s office agrees to it, the judge 99 percent of the time will approve it,” Lindars said.

Meanwhile, Sandi Gibbons in the DAs office is saying don't blame prosecutors.

She said a prosecutor had a lengthy meeting with Thomas-Harris on the day the man was set free.
“We notified the victim that he was being released, as is our duty,” Gibbons said.
Gibbons said she did not know if prosecutors gave the woman any advice or instructions on how to stay safe from her husband during that meeting.

As you can guess, the victim's family is looking for answers.

“It’s unacceptable, it’s negligent,” said Teresa Motley, a cousin of the victim. “The justice system failed us.”

The complete story will appear in tomorrow's newspaper, as reported by Daily Bulletin staffer Rod Leveque.