Preliminary hearing to be held in Torres murder case
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

A preliminary hearing date has been set for a 22-year-old Simi Valley man charged with two separate counts of firstdegree murder.

Daniel Ramirez will appear in a Ventura County Courthouse on Aug. 29, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox. At that time a judge, after hearing arguments from both sides, will make the decision as to whether or not there is enough evidence to hold the case over for jury trial.

"All the cases are consolidated for the purpose of prelim on that day," Fox said.

Ramirez was arrested by Simi Valley police in March in connection with the Jan. 26, 2007 shooting death of 18yearold Luis Torres. During further investigation, police linked Ramirez to the 2003 murder of 30-year-old Angel Luevano, who was found dead after suffering a single gunshot wound to the neck. Both victims were Simi Valley residents.

Chatsworth resident Luis Casillas, 32, also being held in connection with the Luevano murder, is scheduled to appear on the same day as RamirezCasillas' bail is set at $860,000.

Ramirez will be represented by Willard Wiksell of the Conflict Defense Associates.

"When the public defender has some kind of conflict of interest, they'll send someone from CDA," Fox explained.

Both Ramirez and Casillas have pleaded not guilty.