Vol. 3, No. 17
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July 1, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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Alleged Sniper/Murderer Looks For Different Venue/Prosecutor
Long Time Friend Of Washoe DA, Mack Wants Him As Witness
Following a large international manhunt alleged murderer and sniper Darren Mack surrendered to officials in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and is now in jail in Reno awaiting trial. Mack is accused of knifing his estranged wife to death and then in the manner of a sniper shooting Family Court Judge Chuck Weller in the chest. Weller, seriously injured survived the attack. Weller was the judge before whom the Mack couple came for divorce hearings.
Mack's attorney has asked that Washoe County District Attorney and anyone associated with the office be barred from prosecuting the case. Scott Freeman believes that DA Richard Gammick is a close personal friend of Mack, and that Gammick held discussions with the fugitive before Mack surrendered. Freeman says he plans to call Gammick as a witness at trial.
Because District Judge Weller is part of the Washoe legal system, Freeman believes most other judges in the system would have been affected by Weller's shooting. He wants the trial moved to another jurisdiction.
Mack is accused of killing his wife Charla in the garage of the home they once shared. Allegedly Mack knifed the woman to death while a friend of his was upstairs with the Mack's daughter. According to court papers, Mack then allegedly stopped for coffee with his friend and daughter, and proceeded to the city parking garage across the Truckee River from the courthouse and using a powerful rifle shot Judge Weller. Weller was in his third floor office, standing near the clear glass window when he was shot.
Trial date or location has not been determined; the preliminary examination is scheduled for July 11.
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