Crime & Safety
Joseph Naso Trial Delayed Again Because of Writing on Truck
Joseph Naso, who lived with his family in Piedmont in the 1970s and whose sons attended Piedmont schools, was scheduled to continue his closing argument in his murder trial today (Monday). He could face the death penalty if convicted.
SAN RAFAEL (Bay City News Service) — The resumption of closing arguments at the trial of accused serial killer Joseph Naso was delayed this morning (Monday) because of writing on the parked truck of the brother of one of the murder victims.
Larry Roggasch, who has been attending the trial in Marin County Superior Court, wrote "Joseph Naso is charged with killing my sister" on the windows of his Ford Bronco.
Roggasch, whose sister Roxene is one of Naso's four alleged victims, also requested in writing financial help to allow him to stay for the duration of the trial.
Naso's investigator Everson Thompson noticed the truck this morning, took photographs and informed Naso.
Naso, 79, a former Piedmont resident who is representing himself in the trial, then asked Judge Andrew Sweet to poll the jurors to find out if they saw Roggasch's truck.
Sweet agreed to ask each juror individually, delaying the start of Naso's continued closing arguments this morning.
It is the second time that the trial has been delayed because of writing on Roggasch's truck.
Last week, the truck was parked in the jury parking lot. Roggasch, however, removed the writing before the jury returned to court after a two-day break in the trial.
The truck was parked today in a different area outside the courthouse.
Naso said a juror who works at the Civic Center complex may have seen it even if the other jurors did not.
On Friday, Naso said the remainder of his closing argument today would take at least an hour.
Deputy District Attorney Rosemary Slote will then give a rebuttal to Naso's closing argument and it is possible the jury will begin deliberations later today.
Naso, a resident of Reno, Nev., is accused of killing Roxene Roggasch, 18, of Oakland; Carmen Colon, 22, an East Bay resident; Pamela Parsons, 38, of Linda in Yuba County; and Tracey Tafoya, 31, also of Yuba County.
The victims' bodies were found in Marin, Yuba and Contra Costa counties between 1977 and 1994.
Naso lived in Piedmont with his wife and sons during the 1970s. You can read more about Naso's life in Piedmont here.You can read more about Naso's life in Piedmont here.
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