Ruling next week on serial shootings trial site

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge expects to rule next week whether a man charged in the Valley's Serial Shooter case should stand trial in another county.

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After listening to arguments from the prosecution and defense lawyer in the case, Judge Roland J. Steinle III said Friday that he doesn't "want to rule from the bench" and would release a written decision on Wednesday or Thursday.

Dale Hausner's attorney, Ken Everett, argued that since his client has been in custody, the media has portrayed Hausner as already guilty in the string of shootings that terrorized the Valley.

"I haven't seen pervasiveness like this in any other case," Everett said.

Everett argued that Hausner would have the best chance at a fair trial in either Yuma, Cochise or Mohave counties or in Kingman or Tucson, because local counties have been "saturated" by negative news stories about Hausner.

Deputy County Attorney Vince Imbordino argued that most of the news stories about Hausner were published or ran on television about a year ago, or in some cases, even two years ago.

"Certainly there's been publicity and certainly some of these jurors have heard about this case," Imbordino said. "But just because they've heard of it doesn't mean they're not qualified."

Imbordino also said there is no "circuslike atmosphere" in Maricopa County.

Steinle said jury selection is planned to begin on Sept. 3.