Judge Tells Naso To Pay For Own Lawyer

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) -- A judge has ruled that Marin County will not pay for a legal advisor for a serial killing suspect who is representing himself in his murder trial.

Joseph Naso is charged in the killings of four Northern California prostitutes in the 1970s and 1990s. All of the victims had matching first and last initials.

Naso initially chose to represent himself, but later sought a legal advisor, saying his incarceration has limited his ability to conduct legal research. He also said he wasn't able to access funds to pay for a lawyer himself.

But Marin County Superior Court Judge Andrew Sweet ruled Friday that the 77-year-old Naso has enough money to pay for his own lawyer.

Prosecutors say Naso has almost $1 million in assets, including a home in Reno, Nev.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)