A pair of journalists will not be forced to testify at a court hearing for suspected Serial Shooter Dale Hausner (pictured left) later this month after all. Hausner’s attorney, Kenneth Everett, said in court on Friday he will instead use newspaper clippings to prove the case has garnered too much media attention in Maricopa County for his client to get a fair trial here. The goal is to get the Mesa man’s eight-count murder trial moved out of the Valley before its Sept. 3 start.
Everett previously said he wanted to bring reporters from the Arizona Republic and Associated Press to the stand to ask them “something along the lines of: Have you ever experienced anything like it?” Their response, he said, would prove that Hausner’s arrest and legal proceedings were so widely known that it would be nearly impossible to find unbiased jurors.
Critics argued the testimony would be a waste of time, given that pollsters or media researchers would be better suited to answer those questions than the reporters themselves. Everett apparently had a change of heart, telling Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Roland Steinle on Friday that he would not subpoena the reporters.
“So, you’re not going to call Mr. Kiefer?” asked Steinle, referring to Arizona Republic reporter Michael Kiefer, who had just entered the courtroom to cover the hearing.
“I’m not going to give Mr. Imbordino (the prosecutor) the pleasure,” Everett replied.
It’s not unusual for a high-profile defendant, such as Hausner, to ask for a trial to be moved on account of 
publicity — suspected serial killer Mark Goudeau, dubbed the Baseline Killer, asked for the same thing last year — but in Arizona, it’s unusual for it to actually happen. Steinle, who has been on the Valley legal scene since the mid-1980s, said he couldn’t remember a trial in Arizona ever being moved.
However, it just might happen in Hausner’s case. The hearing about whether to move it is scheduled for Aug. 15, and on Friday, Steinle (pictured left) asked both sides for estimates of what it will cost to pick up and move the prosecution, defense, judge and jurors if the case is held somewhere else.
“I’ve done the research,” Steinle said. “And I want everybody to know that I’m seriously considering it.”
Guess i don’t quite understand American justice! This individual. accused of killing individuals in “our” community and we are not allowed to make that “judgement” call because we were made aware that it was occuring? The only thing reported about this character was the “evidence” or lack of it! Same info a Jury would get minus what a judge would instruct a jury to disregard! A defense lawyer has tools to aid a client get away with murder! I guess that’s their “job”! To say our residents can’t listen to the evidence and make a decision based on that evidence, knowing full well that they could be in the same situation someday and be judged by their own piers, is rediculous! These were our people that were slaughtered not somebody elses! Where would they ship this trial to? California or someplace where the citizens weren’t affected by these deaths? “We” were the victims and if this man is innocent why would we not want the “guilty” party to pay the price? Legal system needs some re-vamping!
I am the sister of the witness Ronnie Horton whom died several months ago. He was a very good man and has left behind three sons, he wanted to do what was right and tried to teach his sons what was right and what was wrong. He unfortuntlly died before testifying. I know it tore him up to know that he would have to testify against someone he knew and considered a friend, but he was going to do it. He had heard that his ” friend ” was one of the serial killers and he at first was not convienced that someone one would have done such a horrible thing, but when he saw the photo of the last victim, a teenage girl. His heart was broken. Please consider what you would have done if one of your firiends committed a crime, how would you handle it?? I think both shooters need to suffer as much as Ronnie and his victims and their families have. Do not change the venue, let their peers convict them. Let everyone in town know what they have done and let them decide. My dead brother knew what happened and so does his sons and they will never forget what a REAL MAN is for trying to do the right thing. Keep it in town.