Bail reduced for son of Nunez in murder case

A judge Tuesday reduced the bail for the son of former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and three other co-defendants in the alleged murder of a San Diego college student to $1 million each.

Brad Patton, lawyer for Esteban Nunez, said the family will be able to meet the bail requirements. Nunez, 19, was expected to be released from jail in San Diego by late Tuesday night.

Judge David Szumowski reduced the bail over the protest of Deputy Dist. Atty. Jill DiCarlo, who said it should remain at the $2 million set last week when Nunez and the three co-defendants were arraigned.

Fabian Nunez attended the brief hearing, as did two dozen other family members and friends.

DiCarlo scoffed at letters submitted on behalf of the younger Nunez by family friends. She submitted pictures from MySpace showing Nunez stabbing a frog and preparing to stab a kitten.

Patton protested the “notion that my client is playing the daddy card.”

Nunez; Rafael Garcia, 19; Ryan Kelly Jett, 22; and Leshanor Thomas, 19, are accused of murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon in an alleged knife attack on a group of partygoers Oct. 4 near San Diego State University that left a 22-year-old student dead.

-- Tony Perry