Ronald Loureiro held to answer on all charges; his three children witnessed the stabbing

Preliminary hearing scheduled for Orick murder suspect Ronald Loureiro on July 24 took half an hour. People presented three witnesses. Loureiro was held to answer on all charges. Victim Vernon Weatherford.

Arraignment on information is August 8.

Judge Christopher Wilson read the charges as follows:

Count 1 is murder with a special allegation: use of a deadly weapon; in this case a knife. Count 2, 3 and 4 involve three alleged victims; John Does ages 8, 6 and 2 years old. The charge for Counts 2-4 is cruelty to a child/ child endangerment.

Loureiro is also charged with three special allegations: prior strike conviction PC 245 (a) (1) assault with a deadly weapon, Humboldt County case Febrruary 2, 2007; prior strike conviction PC 245 (a) (1) Humboldt County case, November 25, 2015 and two prior serious felony convictions (these are the prior strikes)

The children who are Loureiro's biological children were in the backseat of a car and witnessed Loureiro stab Weatherford who they considered a father figure. The mother of the three Jane Does is Jacqueline Carter. She also witnessed the stabbing. Carter had a prior relationship with Loureiro. She was in a dating relationship with Weatherford.

Deputy District Attorney Joel Buckingham is prosecuting the case. Deputy Conflict Counsel Joe Judge is representing Loureiro.

There were eight people in the audience from the community.

Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/07/orick-murder-suspect-ronald-loureiros.html?m=1#more

On January 8, Loureiro could not understand why he wasbeing charged with cruelty to children.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/01/i-dont-understand-how-i-can-be-charged.html?m=1