Detective in Sierra LaMar murder trial gave false testimony in different trial

A new development in the Sierra LaMar murder case could get her convicted killer a new trial or help his appeal.

A judge revealed that the lead detective in the case, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Herman Leon, was found to have given false testimony in another murder trial in 2009.

The judge found Sgt. Leon testified to “statistical inaccuracies” so significant, it was enough to overturn the murder convictions of two defendants.

“This has the potential to blossom into a very significant issue,” Former prosecutor and legal analyst Steve Clark said.

“If the court feels that there are credibility issues involving one of the lead detectives, that should have been disclosed to the defense that will certainly be grounds they will look at to ask for a new trial in this case.”

Defense attorneys for Antolin Garcia-Torres are now hoping to use that discovery to discredit the detective’s testimony in the Sierra LaMar murder trial. Defense attorneys now interested in getting the detective in front of the jury as part of a “lingering doubt” strategy to spare Garcia-Torres the death penalty.