DA’s Office Pushes for Justice in Decades-Old Case
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón is advocating for the exoneration of Charlotte Pleytez and Lombardo Palacios, who have spent over 17 years in prison for a 2007 East Hollywood murder they allegedly did not commit. The request for exoneration was presented on Tuesday, with Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William Ryan deferring a decision until November 1 to allow further review.
Conviction Integrity Unit Confident in New Evidence
Tom Trainor, leading the DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit, expressed strong confidence in the latest analysis, indicating flaws in the original case. However, Deputy District Attorney Dayan Mathai, who initially prosecuted the case, raised last-minute concerns, prompting the judge to ensure that both sides are thoroughly heard.
Gascón Cites Coercion and Injustice
In a statement, Gascón highlighted that Palacios, then 15, faced coercive tactics during interrogation, including misleading claims of video evidence implicating him. He emphasized that the original jury never saw key exonerating evidence and that both Palacios and Pleytez consistently maintained their innocence. Gascón assured ongoing efforts to find those truly responsible for the crime.
