Man Arrested In Decade-Old Tourist Murder
Man Arrested In Decade-Old Tourist Murder
Carpenter is accused of participating in the killing Horst Fietze during a bungled robbery. Fietze, his wife and some friends, who did not speak English, were confronted by two men and a woman as the tourists were leaving the beach in Santa Monica. Fietze was shot when he did not turn over a bag that the gunman was demanding. The incident was captured on videotape by a hotel security camera, and using fingerprint evidence, police were able to identify and arrest Carpenter's girlfriend and two other accomplices, but Carpenter escaped. He faces one count of murder and three counts of attempted robbery, and is expected back in Los Angeles today. An anonymous tipster who will claim a $20,000 reward alerted authorities to Carpenter's whereabouts.
Unlike many other crimes, murder has no statute of limitations. You can be arrested and tried at any time for crimes that took place even decades earlier. In addition, state law permits a prosecutor to charge you with murder for any crime that results in a death. If you've been arrested for murder in the State of California, you could also face the death penalty or three strikes enhancements, depending upon the circumstances of the crime.
You need a highly skilled attorney to represent you in court. Robert Michael Helfend has practiced criminal defense exclusively in Southern California for nearly 25 years. He handles all types of criminal defense matters - major and minor - in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County.
Robert Helfend has established himself as a well-respected, aggressive criminal defense attorney - exactly what you need when you're facing murder charges. Don't underestimate the value of experience. Contact Robert Helfend to discuss your case today.
Photo Credit: Nosbor Azuos