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E-mail sharing at center of trial controversy

William Ferchland, Tahoe Daily Tribune

As the Feb. 3 trial nears for a woman accused of the first degree murder of her 9-year-old daughter, attorneys on both sides were busy ironing out details about e-mail correspondence and lengthy witness lists.

During a hearing Thursday at El Dorado County Superior Court, Richard Meyer, lead public defender in El Dorado County, expressed frustration about his belief that all e-mail transmissions have not been shared.

Meyer focused on one set of supposed e-mail transmissions held by the FBI. In them, Meyer believes there are details about James Csucsai’s mental state.



Csucsai was with Platz and her 9-year-old daughter, Rebbeca Aramburo, the day authorities stormed a tent that held the trio. The adults were wanted for taking Rebbeca from her father’s home in Washington and were found at Campground by the Lake in September 2001.

Csucsai committed suicide in April 2002. Platz faces life in prison if convicted for first degree murder and kidnapping with special circumstances.



Another pretrial hearing was scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m. so Judge Jerald Lasarow can make a determination on a prosecution motion, which wants more information about the defense’s witness list.

In other news:

–Two 15-year-olds were taken into custody for allegedly stealing nearly $400 worth of goods including a Playstation 2, several video games and money, a South Lake Tahoe police officer said.

Tips led police to the boys, who reportedly confessed to the burglary on Idaho Avenue on Tuesday, the officer said.

— About $1,000 worth of camera equipment was reported stolen from the Ski Run Marina, a South Lake Tahoe police officer said.

A $700 Canon G-5 digital camera and $240 flash was including in the items stolen, a deputy said.

— Somebody started a fire underneath a carport on the 1000 block of Tata Lane, causing about $500 in damage, a South Lake Tahoe police officer said.

— After being asked to stop the profanities and told not drive in his condition, a 22-year-old Cameron Park man was taken into custody for striking two Caesars Tahoe security guards while being detained, a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy said.

— A 42-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was taken into custody for allegedly shoplifting 12 bottles of alcohol worth $450 from the Safeway Food and Drug in Round Hill, a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy said.

Security watched the man reportedly putting the liquor in a shopping cart Tuesday and rolling out the exit without paying.

— A 53-year-old Stateline man reported his 2.5-foot Gargoyle statue stolen from the front of his house on the 100 block of Tramway Drive, a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy said.

The statue weighed 100 pounds, was made of concrete and had its wings tucked behind the back.

— A 44-year-old Glenbrook woman reported her $300 Kinder Sled Expedition cross country sled stolen from her home, a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy said.


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