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Victim's kin attend murder hearing "It was almost frightening to see him, but I was prepared," Kate Riggins said following the brief encounter with Richard Joseph Hirschfield, who is charged with the 1980 murders of UC Davis sweethearts John Riggins and Sabrina Gonsalves. "He is locked up, and that's what we hope for - that he is prevented from harming or killing another person's child." The Rigginses traveled from Shell Beach to attend Hirschfield's brief appearance in Sacramento Superior Court, where a judge ordered the proceedings postponed until Nov. 30 to allow Hirschfield's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Linda Parisi, more time to review the massive amount of evidence that's been compiled in the 24-year-old case. "This is, unfortunately, just the beginning," said Deputy District Attorney Dawn Bladet, who is prosecuting Hirschfield. She said she expects it will take well over a month to hand over discovery in the case, which she said includes hundreds of audiotapes, videotapes and photographs. Parisi, who currently is in trial on another case, could not be reached for comment about Thursday's proceedings. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the 55-year-old Hirschfield, who is charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances, as well as the rape of Sabrina Gonsalves. Her parents, George and Kim Gonsalves, attended Hirschfield's Sept. 28 arraignment but were not present for Thursday's hearing. Although Hirschfield has not yet entered a plea, he is expected to plead not guilty once a preliminary hearing is scheduled in the case. He is suspected of kidnapping the couple, both 18, in Davis on the night of Dec. 20, 1980. Their bodies and Riggins' van were found two days later in Sacramento County, near the area now occupied by the Folsom Automall. Years passed after the grisly discovery, during which prosecutors in Yolo County charged, then dismissed the case against four others in connection with the murders. Sacramento County authorities resumed control of the case several years ago and, in August 2002, linked Hirschfield to the case via DNA in a semen stain on a blanket found in Riggins' van. Knowing Hirschfield was behind bars in Washington state for molesting two young girls in 1995, Sacramento detectives took their time investigating his alleged role in the crime. Last year, they questioned Hirschfield's brother, who the next day took his own life and left a brief note implicating himself in the killings, authorities said. But investigators are still seeking evidence that places Hirschfield in Davis around the time of the killings. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sacramento sheriff's homicide unit at (916) 874-5201. It's expected to be at least several years before the case goes to trial. Kate Riggins said she and her husband plan to attend major hearings in the case, while close friends from Davis will attend other proceedings on their behalf. About a half-dozen of them accompanied the Rigginses to court on Thursday. "It gives us strength, to know they were there witnessing this, too," Riggins said. "It's how we've survived, really, to have this type of support." - Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net Friday, October 22, 2004 |
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