Local News in Brief : Judge Dismisses Charge of Attempted Murder
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A San Fernando Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed an attempted-murder charge against a man accused of ramming his automobile into a motorcycle police officer and sideswiping three cars on the Golden State Freeway in September.
Judge Irwin H. Garfinkel said prosecutors at a preliminary hearing Oct. 21 did not present sufficient evidence to show that Oscar William Smith, 36, meant to kill Los Angeles Police Officer James K. Johnson in the Sept. 12 incident.
Smith is still charged with one count of causing a hit-and-run accident with injuries and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon--his auto.
Garfinkel suggested that Deputy Dist. Atty. Rosalie L. Morton charge Smith with assaulting a peace officer. But Morton said she plans to refile the attempted-murder charge.
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