Hide Article Text (OCR)
Durkee Murder Case Trial Hearing ClosedAttorneys for accused killer Richard W. Durkee, 22, continued their efforts Monday to keep details about a Simi Valley murder secret as they requested that the preliminary hearing in Ventura Municipal Court be closed to the public.William N. Byhower, one of two lawyers representing Durkee against charges the defendant kidnaped, robbed and murdered Antoinette Talan, 38, of Simi Valley, asked Judge Charles McGrath to exclude the public from the two-day preliminary hearing.Because the defense motion to dose a preliminary hearing must be automatically granted, McGrath closed the hearing tothe public.Ten days ago another attorney for Durkee, Ralph Larsen, tried to get a “gag order” preventing police, prosecutors and court officials from talking to the press about the case. Municipal Court Judge Robert Soares denied the motion for the “gag order.”The body of Mrs. Talan, who disappeared June 28, 1975, has never been found. Simi Valley police and the FBI, however, linked Durkee with her disappearance through a typewritten letter and ring.Durkee is charged with extortion, besides the kidnaping, robbery and murder counts.The extortion alleged is that he wrote a typewritten letter to Charles Talan on June 29, which expressed a threat to injure Mrs. TalanAlso, investigators have re-* ported finding a ring inside the home of Durkee’s parents in Simi Valley and the ring has been Identified as Mrs. Talan’s by her husband.Investigators also have said that Durkee has been seen with Mrs. Talan before she disappeared.Assistant Dist. Atty. Mike Bradbury was scheduled to call over 20 witnesses during the preliminary hearing to establish that there is sufficientevidence to hold Durkee for trial in Superior Court on the kidnaping, robbery, murder and extortion charges.Four special circumstances, which could make this a death-penalty crime, are also alleged.These are:, the murder was committed to prevent Mrs. Talan's testimony in court on other charges, the murder was during a robbery, the murder was during a kidnap for ransom, and the kidnaping resultedin Mrs. Talan's death.The FBI was heavily involved in the investigation which led to Durkee’s arrest Feb. 24 in Oregon. FBI agents are expected to testify during the preliminary hearing.Some of the witnesses Bradbury was scheduled to call to-’ eluded Mrs. Talan’s husband, Charles, and daughter, Susan. Also scheduled witnesses were Durkee’s parents. William and Evelyn Durkee of Simi Valley.Abortion Fpes Ask City Council BackingAn antiabortionist, Earl C. Rydberg, Tuesday night plunked a bottled fetus down on a desk in front of the Oxnard City Council in full view of ail in the council chambers.“That’s what an unborn child looks like,” he said.Three members of the city staff were sitting at the desk atthe time.Later, some attending the meeting said the action angered them. Others said it made them nauseous.Rydberg was one of several persons appearing before the council criticizing officials for taking no action last week to the Pro-Life Council’s ursine thatthe city support a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion.Among the speakers, in addition to Rydberg, were William Hamilton and Mrs William Hayes.Despite the fact the council explained, as the mayor did last week, that the policy is to take no action on matters not directly related to the city, the antiabortion advocates continued to push for support of their cause The council terminated the discussion by directing staff to furnish a concisely defined report describing the city’s policy at the council meeting of March 31.
Newspaper Details
Oxnard Ventura County Ad Visor
Oxnard, California, US
Thu, Mar 18, 1976
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
James D.
USA 31 Dec 2024
Other Publications Near Oxnard, California
Oxnard Press Courier
Ventura County Classified Pictorial
Oxnard Ventura County Ad Visor
Oxnard Daily Courier
Oxnard Courier
