Weber trial
delayed due to new counsel
By Neal Putnam
The Alpine Sun
EL CAJON — A judge set a March 24 trial date for the motorist
accused of running over Edward Costa as he was riding his
bicycle on Alpine Boulevard, but the date will change to later
this year after the motorist got a retained attorney.
Travis Chris Weber, 44, pleaded not guilty on Feb. 4 to
gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit and run with
death, and making an unsafe lane change when his vehicle struck
Costa, 30, of Alpine, on Dec. 2, 2008. Costa was struck around
4:50 p.m. just minutes after Weber struck another car at a stop
sign.
Attorney Russell Robinson appeared in court with Weber
on Feb. 4, and his public defender, Karen Hirr, was relieved by
El Cajon Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh. Robinson will have
to read transcripts of the Jan. 21 preliminary hearing to
prepare his defense, but the transcript has not yet been
completed.
A more realistic trial date will be set on March 10,
said Deputy District Attorney Gordon Davis. He said Weber faces
25 years in prison if he is convicted of all charges.
Weber admitted to being on a drinking binge for at
least five days before his vehicle struck Costa, said a
California Highway Patrol officer during the preliminary
hearing. Weber claimed he did not remember striking Costa, and
the other motorist minutes before. Weber also said he never
drove in Alpine even though he lived in Alpine, according to
what he told the officer.
Weber was arrested Dec. 4 when mourners noticed a white
Ford F-150 truck with front-end damage drive in the parking lot
of the Liar's Club in Alpine. They notified sheriff's deputies,
who arrested Weber as he was downing a German beer called
Damnation at the Liar's Club.
Weber remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility
on $1 million bail. Weber has been convicted of drunk driving in
1985 and in 2005.
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