By Mansour Taleb-Ahmed
OAKLAND, CA – During a preliminary hearing here in Alameda County Superior Court late last week, the public defender for the accused—facing arson charges—asked why his client was being held in jail.
The prosecutor said they were ready to proceed, but understood the accused is in quarantine. Additionally, counsel demanded the court “find good cause and continue the matter, I guess we will be day to day at this point.”
The defense argued that the accused must be released and that “ [The accused’s] car is in quarantine, it has nothing to do with personal health status.”
The PD noted, “Under People v. Standish 2006 38 Cal.4, there are only six possible ways that the defendant can still be held in custody, and quarantine is not one of them.”
The prosecution submitted to the motion made by the public defender to move the case forward, and Judge Colin Bowell decided to send the case to a preliminary hearing.
