Marin County Serial Killing Suspect Wants Shackles Removed
SAN RAFAEL (CBS SF) - A 77-year-old man who allegedly killed four Northern California women between 1977 and 1994 asked a Marin County Superior Court judge Friday to be unshackled during his court proceedings.
Both of Joseph Naso's hands have been shackled at the waist during his court appearances.
Marin County sheriff's Lt. Jamie Scardina testified during a brief hearing Friday morning that Naso, of Reno, Nev., is not allowed any contact with other inmates as part of the sheriff's office's administrative segregation policy because of the nature of the charges.
Accordingly, Naso, who is representing himself, is being shackled in court, Scardina said.
Judge Andrew Sweet approved Naso's motion to unshackle his left hand to allow him to write during court proceedings. The order applies up to his Jan. 10 preliminary hearing.
Sweet said the issue can be revisited then, and if the Marin County District Attorney's Office wants Naso shackled it can file a motion to do so.
Naso is suspected of killing Roxene Roggasch, 18, of Oakland, whose body was found on Jan. 10, 1977, on White's Hill near Fairfax, and Carmen Colon, 22, who was found dead near Port Costa in Contra Costa County in 1978.
He is also accused in the deaths of Pamela Parsons, 38, and Tracey Tafoya, 31, who were killed in Yuba County in 1993 and 1994, respectively.
Naso's next hearing is Oct. 11.
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