Jose Antonio Barajas faces a charge of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment in relation to his alleged killing of 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas on Aug. 1, 2014. Photo by John Chadwell.
Jose Antonio Barajas faces a charge of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment in relation to his alleged killing of 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas on Aug. 1, 2014. Photo by John Chadwell.
Public defender Gregory LaForge asked for a 995 motion to question if Judge Steven Sanders has made any mistakes during previous hearings. Photo by John Chadwell.

Jose Antonio Barajas appeared in San Benito County Superior Court on July 18, where his public defender Gregory LaForge requested a 995 motion to examine Judge Steven Sanders’ handling of the case. Barajas is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment in relation to his alleged killing of 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas on Aug. 1, 2014.

According to the Los Angeles-based Kraut Law Group, “After a defendant has been held to answer and is re-arraigned, defense council will be provided a copy of the preliminary hearing transcript. This transcript can be an extremely important factor in any 995 motion, as this is the evidence that the trial judge will review when considering the defendant’s motion to dismiss.”

If the court grants the 995 motion, the prosecution can refile the charges in a new felony complaint. If the court denies the motion, the defense may file a writ of mandate requesting an immediate appellate review of the court’s denial.

Sanders set a date of Aug. 9 for the 995 motion to be presented and a deadline of Aug. 26 for the prosecution’s response. He said a hearing will be held Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m. If the motion is not granted, Sanders said a trial-setting conference would take place on Sept. 12 at 9 a.m.

According to testimony from San Benito County Sheriff deputies at an April 15 hearing, three witnesses claim Barajas fired shots at a vehicle on Aug. 1, 2014 during a pursuit, hitting and killing Zendejas, who was riding in the back seat of the vehicle. She died while being transported from Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital to another hospital via helicopter.

 

Other related BenitoLink articles:

https://benitolink.com/barajas-hearing-delayed-three-weeks/

https://benitolink.com/barajas-to-appear-in-court-june-27/

https://benitolink.com/barajas-hearing-delayed-until-june/

https://benitolink.com/three-eyewitnesses-say-jose-antonio-barajas-fired-shot-that-killed-ariana-zendejas/

https://benitolink.com/jose-barajas-held-without-bail-pleads-not-guilty-to-murder-and-other-crimes/

https://benitolink.com/jose-barajas-appointed-public-defender-no-bail/

https://benitolink.com/jose-barajas-arraigned-on-murder-and-six-other-felonies/

 

John Chadwell works as a feature, news and investigative reporter for BenitoLink on a freelance basis. Chadwell first entered the U.S. Navy right out of high school in 1964, serving as a radioman aboard...