Gonzales County reschedules murder trial
Birth mother of deceased girl growing frustrated
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GONZALES – Crystal Ramirez will have been dead for more than a year and her 10th birthday passed the next time the couple accused of murdering her set foot in a courtroom.
On Wednesday, a pre-trial hearing for Steve and Bettie Ramirez was rescheduled for Sept. 10. Originally set for Monday, July 14, the trial for the dead girl’s adoptive parents was also rescheduled for Nov. 3. Defense attorney Robert Caine and Assistant District Attorney Carrie Moy met briefly before 25th District Judge W.C. Kirkendall approved the new dates.
“The case is not ready for either side,” said Moy.
The slow wheels of justice are frustrating Teresa Camarillo, Crystal’s birth mother. Camarillo lost custody of Crystal and her siblings in 2001.
“It makes me wonder what the hold-up is. I thought next week might bring some closure, but now it’s wait two more months,” said Camarillo after court Wednesday. “They are walking around free while my little girl is six feet under the ground. That’s not right.”
Arrested on Aug. 24, the couple spent about six months in the Gonzales County jail before their bond was lowered to $75,000 each. The bonds had been $350,000 on Steve Ramirez, 65, and $300,000 on Bettie Ramirez, 59.
The husband took Crystal’s body to the Belmont fire station on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, nine days before her 9th birthday, saying she had been hurt in a trampoline accident. Travis County Medical Examiner David Dolinak later reported that Crystal suffered from malnutrition and weighed only 45 pounds at the time of her death.
She also suffered “at least 10 impact areas to the head” causing bleeding between the skull and the brain, according to the ME’s report.
A Gonzales County grand jury indicted the couple for murder on Monday, Nov. 19.
They were also indicted for injury to a child. Last month, additional indictments of unlawful restraint and endangering a child were added to the charges the couple faces. They have both pleaded not guilty.
Sonny Long is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at 361-580-6585, by e-mail at slong@vicad.com.
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This judge has reset this pre-trial hearing atleast three times now.Why,IDK.What are they waiting on,IDK.
Does anyone have the answer to my question I asked about in my first post cus,IDK.
July 11, 2008 at 3:16 p.m.I agree, we have had bad luck with the DA's and Judges, Kirkendall was the prior DA, before Patillo, and he definitley did not put justice first, his first priority ws to get his name and his picture in the paper. wonder why niether side is ready, haven't they had year or so to get ready? isn't carrie moy this "super" lawyer??? I bet in the end they will offer a plea, maybe the kind that kirkendall is famous for, "$1000.00 fine and 5 years deffered adjucation"
July 11, 2008 at 11:44 a.m.Please do not plan on anything in this jurasdiction district to quickly. Sometimes I think it is hard for them to really put justice first. We have had no luck with the DA office or the judges. It can be very frustrating when you know with out a doubt someone is guilty and your love one is the one paying the price for incompitence. Trust me we know. Maybe a change in elected officials and Judges could help.
July 10, 2008 at 6 p.m.Quick Question:When someone is re-indicted on charges are they supposed to be re-arrested?
July 10, 2008 at 10:28 a.m.