Trial in the case of Rudy Cardenas' Killer

Rudy Cardenas’ two daughters, Corina and Regina Cardenas, were at the press conference. Indybay asked Regina if she thought it was likely the case against Walker would be dismissed. “I don’t want to say it’s not likely,” she said, “because they get away with a lot of stuff usually. I’m hoping for the best out of this.” She said her family was not prepared to see her father’s killer on trial: “We went into all this blindly so we’re still trying to figure everything out as we go along.” She added that what happened to her family could happen to anyone's.

Indybay interviewed attorney Richard Konda, of the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, an activist group backing the Cardenas family:

Indybay: “Do you think the defense has any chance of dismissing these charges?”

Richard Konda: “I don’t think so. I think Walker’s attorney is doing what he needs to do but I think when the judge hears the case I don’t see how he could dismiss it. There are some issues about whether there were disagreements between [district attorneys]; whether there may have been some improper contact with the Grand Jury or improper instructions. But I don’t think that had a bearing on the final out come of the Grand Jury’s decision.”

Indybay: “Do you personally think the prosecution has a strong case at this moment?”

RK: “Yeah, I think so, I think they wouldn’t pursue it unless they had a strong case. It’s the way they operate. They will not pursue a case unless they really believe they can convict the person.”

Indybay: “Do you think a show of solidarity is good for the chances of this case?”

RK: “I think it’s most important in terms of support for the family. I think it’s important for us to be there just to hear, so we can understand.”

On the way into the courtroom, Aida García, Rudy Cardenas’ sister, turned to a family member and said, with a small smile: “We have to relive this all over again. It’s like it happened yesterday.”