Valley Fair mall shooting: Hearing delayed for adults charged as accessories

"SAN JOSE - A key hearing to assess criminal charges for three adults accused of helping a teen suspect flee the infamous Black Friday shooting at Westfield Valley Fair mall has been pushed to the new year. The continuance, granted Monday by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Williams, means that a preliminary examination for the trio is now scheduled for Jan. 12. That's when the court will review evidence and testimony, then decide if the charges are strong enough to proceed toward trial."

"San Jose residents Christian Joel Duran, 20, Evan John Moniz, 33, and Allana Nevaeh Murillo, 21, have each been charged with being a felony accessory in the Nov. 28 alleged gang-motivated shooting that wounded a 28-year-old man and two bystanders, an 18-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl, and sent the mall into a mass panic on one of the busiest shopping days of the year."

"All three were arraigned Dec. 3 and pleaded not guilty; Moniz and Murillo were released from jail custody after posting $100,000 and $125,000 bail, respectively. Duran is also out of jail but under home detention. The shooting suspect, a 17-year-old boy who is Duran's brother, has been charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, and is currently being prosecuted in juvenile court. He briefly appeared in court Monday, and was ordered to return to court Feb. 3."

A judge granted a continuance moving the preliminary examination for three adults accused of helping a teen flee the Westfield Valley Fair Black Friday shooting to Jan. 12. The court will review evidence and testimony then decide if charges can proceed to trial. San Jose residents Christian Joel Duran, Evan John Moniz and Allana Nevaeh Murillo are charged as felony accessories in the Nov. 28 gang-motivated shooting that wounded three people and caused a mall panic. All three pleaded not guilty at Dec. 3 arraignments; Moniz and Murillo posted bail and Duran is under home detention. The 17-year-old suspect, Duran's brother, faces attempted murder charges in juvenile court and a DA request to transfer him to adult court remains pending. The continuance was approved after a lead detective became unexpectedly unavailable; defense counsel objected.

Read at The Mercury News