Murder defendant awaits evaluation
EL CENTRO — The Sept. 9 trial date for murder defendant Ioan Laurint was recently vacated after defense attorney Donald Levine asked for a continuance, citing a number of factors.
Instead, parties will return to court on Sept. 26 for a pre-trial hearing where county Superior Court Judge Christopher Plourd is also expected to rule on a number of motions.
“It is my hope that we can get a trial date on that day,” Plourd said during a court hearing Aug. 15.
Levine’s motion for a continuance was prompted by his need to continue reviewing more than 5,000 pages of discovery that are related to the case, he said.
The San Diego-based defense attorney also told the court that Laurint is scheduled to undergo a mental health evaluation in late October by one of three experts who were retained by the court after Laurint had entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity during his arraignment on Oct. 18.
That arraignment came a week after the conclusion of a civil trial where a jury found he was mentally competent to stand trial.
Though the most recent mental health evaluations were authorized in late 2018, Levine told the court on Aug. 15 that he encountered challenges finding an expert who hadn’t already provided services in the case.
“I tried to find somebody that hasn’t already been used that speaks Spanish,” Levine said.
Laurint had been evaluated by four mental health professionals during the mental competency trial. Jurors appeared to have sided with the sole professional who concluded Laurint was faking his symptoms of cognitive and mental impairment.
The civil competency trial had postponed the criminal case, which stems from allegations that Laurint fatally stabbed El Centro attorney Ann Marie Zimmermann on Feb. 17, 2017, at a motel in El Centro.
He currently remains in custody on $1 million bail since his March 5, 2017, arrest.
In contrast to his prior court appearances, Laurint did not appear on Aug. 15 to be softly speaking to himself and responded by saying “good morning” when his interpreter told him that Plourd had said “good morning” to him.
He could also be overheard responding “yes” in Spanish when asked by the court if he agreed to waive his right to a speedy trial and return on Sept. 26.
An expert was also in the process of being retained by the defense to review some of the phone calls Laurint made while in jail. Levine told the court on Aug. 15 that he was in the process of first getting an estimate for the services and then approval from the county counsel’s office.
During the hearing, it was disclosed that counsel were awaiting the completion of a DNA analysis of evidence by the state Department of Justice.
County Assistant District Attorney Deborah Owen told the court that the analysis was expected to soon be completed.
“Getting the work done by DOJ has always been problematic,” Plourd said.
He also denied a motion by Owen that sought the personnel records of three Imperial County Sheriff’s Office employees who may be called to testify.
Owen had sought the records to determine whether the three employees’ personnel files contained any instances or allegations of wrongdoing that could potentially be used by the defense to impeach their possible testimony.
Plourd denied the motion, and characterized it as a “fishing expedition.”
On Sept. 26, Plourd is expected to rule on additional motions by the prosecution that seek to prohibit the introduction as exhibits video and photographs of the defendant and the deceased allegedly engaging in consensual sex, as well as a motion that seeks to allow Zimmermann’s husband to be present during the trial’s proceedings.
Laurint is facing one count of murder in connection to the Feb. 17, 2017, fatal stabbing of Zimmermann, who was found dead at the Golden West Motel where Laurint had been staying for several days.