Jurors Urge Death for ‘Trailside Killer’
SAN DIEGO — A Superior Court jury has recommended the death sentence for convicted “Trailside Killer” David Carpenter because of the “savagery” of his 1980 murders of five hikers in Northern California.
Carpenter, 58, who already sits on San Quentin’s Death Row for two 1981 killings, showed no emotion as the recommendation was read Monday. Judge Herbert Hoffman scheduled a July 19 hearing in which he will either confirm the jury’s decision or reject it in favor of life in prison without parole.
The trial was moved to San Diego because of excessive publicity in Marin County.
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