Accused Murderer Opens Rambling Defense in Montgomery County Court
By David Madden
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Montgomery County jury has begun hearing evidence in the murders of a 61-year-old woman and her ten-month-old granddaughter nearly two years ago.
An Upper Merion man charged in the case is acting as his own attorney and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Defendant Rahgu Yandamuri's opening statement was rambling and at times hard to follow. But he questioned the motive of police and the DA, insists that others are responsible for the crimes, and hoped jurors would keep an open mind.
His standby counsel, Stephen Heckman, has tried time and again to convince Yandamuri not to represent himself
"It's never a good idea for anyone in the world to represent themselves -- even a lawyer who's accused of a crime," Heckman says. "I would really hope, at some point, counsel's back in it."
Prosecutors laid out their case in opening arguments this morning, suggesting that Yandamuri planned a robbery and kidnapping to fuel his gambling habit, then changed his mind and killed the elderly woman, stuffed a rag down the infant's throat and stuffed her in a suitcase, only to dump her later in a trash can.
Jurors are also hearing Yandamuri's 20-minute videotaped confession. They have already heard the initial 911 call to police and the frantic attempt by the elder victim's son to revive his mother.