Huntsman, Curiel case continued two weeks

Tami Huntsman and Gonzalo Curiel hid their faces from the media as they faced a Monterey County judge Friday afternoon.

Huntsman and Curiel are charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of 3-year-old Delylah and 6-year-old Shaun Tara. Prosecutors believe the children were killed in Salinas before their bodies were found in plastic bin at a storage facility in Redding. The couple is also child abuse and torture in the case of a 9-year-old girl who was found with broken bones in Plumas County.

Curiel’s public defender asked the hearing be delayed for two weeks, whichthe judge granted.

“We’re going to let the proceedings take place,” said Jared Jefferson, Monterey Countypublic defender. “It’s still a very early stage in the proceedings, I justask that everybody keep an open mind in this case and I have no furthercomment.”

The two are still being held without bail.

The judge addressed another issue brought up by the defense — cameras inthe courtroom. There was some discussion whether electronic media wouldcomplicate the case even more, putting the suspects’ due process at risk.The judge ruled cameras could be allowed during this particular hearing.

Huntsman and Curiel will be back in court on Jan. 20.