Sandra Cantu case: Melissa Huckaby laughs and smiles in court, no court date set

Melissa Huckaby during a prior court hearing. (AP)

On Friday, the accused killer of 8-year-old Tracy, Calif. girl, Sandra Cantu, appeared in court for a hearing in the matter.

Melissa Huckaby is charged with the abduction, rape, and murder of Sandra and faces the death penalty if convicted.

According to San Joaquin Superior Court Judge Linda Loftus, “It’s premature to set a trial date today.”

Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa was not happy with the delay because some of the witnesses are children, whose memories fade as time passes.

According to Mercury News, Huckaby and her attorney, Sam Behar, met with Judge Loftus prior to the hearing, where Behar argued for a trial delay. However, to allay Testa’s concerns about  child witnesses, Behar asked the judge to allow witness testimony to be taped prior to trial, and then be replayed during the actual proceeding. Loftus denied the request, citing that such testimony is only used when a witness is ill, elderly, or unable to attend a trial.

During the proceeding, Huckaby sat quietly shackled, but at certain points laughed and smiled with her attorney.
 

The parties will be back in court on Oct. 30 for a progress report and again on Dec. 4, when a trial date is expected to be set.

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