Crime & Safety
Mara Steves Trial Postponed Again
The trial for Adam Hall, who is charged with murder in connection with the traffic crash that killed resident Mara Steves in 2011, was scheduled to begin Friday but was continued to November, according to the District Attorney's office.
The trial for Adam Harrison Hall, who is charged with murder in connection with a traffic crash that killed resident Mara Steves in 2011, was scheduled to begin Friday, but was continued to Nov. 2, the district attorney's office reported.
Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino said: "The defense attorney was engaged in another trial today and asked for a continuance. "
This is not the first time the case has been delayed since Hall was arrested on May 24, 2011.
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He pleaded not guilty on March 6 and had a pretrial on March 23. After months of postponements and a judge who recused himself, a jury trial for Hall was set on Friday for Nov. 5, Pino added.
Hall, 27, of Placentia, was arrested in connection with the death of community activist Mara Feb. 13 while trying to rescue a dog that had been running in traffic.
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Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies arrested Hall in a phone booth at a Walgreens in Yorba Linda. He has been in jail ever since.
The Good Samaritan's death made national news and earned a nod from which presented her husband, John, daughter Hannah and son Jonathan with a posthumous certificate in her name called The Compassionate Action Award.
Hall, who had two prior convictions for driving under the influence, has been charged with murder in the drug-induced crash, the Orange County District Attorney's office said. (After his second conviction, authorities warned Hall he could face a murder rap if he killed someone while driving under the influence.)
He was also charged with one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury. If convicted, Hall faces a maximum 21 years to life in state prison.
On the day of the accident, according to authorities, Hall had a virtual pharmacy of drugs coursing through his veins. Driving north on Moulton Parkway in a Ford sport utility vehicle, he allegedly sailed through a red light at Nueva Vista Drive and rammed a Toyota SUV passing legally through the intersection.
Since her death, numerous fundraisers, and memorials have been erected in her honor including a tree planted planted by local firefighters in front of the neighborhood entrance at Nueva Vista and Moulton Parkway where the accident happened.
Mara Steves is survived by her
