A court ruling was postponed Thursday whether Venice boardwalk rampage suspect Nathan Louis Campbell, a 38-year-old transient from Colorado, will have to stand trial on murder and other charges.
According to reports, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Antonio Barreto Jr. granted public defender Philip Dube’s request to postpone the decision on the final day of the preliminary hearing.
The LA Times reports that Dube told the judge he wasn’t prepared, adding he didn’t receive transcripts of testimony given by victims and witnesses until Monday.
Campbell will have to wait until Wednesday, Jan. 8 learn the judge’s decision.
Campbell pleaded not guilty Aug. 6, 2013 to one count of murder, 16 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and 17 counts of hit-and-run.
Campbell is accused of plowing into crowds in a Dodge Avenger near The Candle Café on Ocean Front Walk in Venice, killing Italian tourist Alice Gruppioni and injuring 16 other people.
The incident began at about 6 pm Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013 when Campbell began his rampage in the 100 block of Dudley Avenue before turning onto Ocean Front Walk and driving south.
Video of the incident shows the driver of the car seeming to purposely aim at pedestrians as he swerved on and off the curb.
The suspect abandoned the car about two miles away at Ocean Park Boulevard and Beverly Avenue in Santa Monica before turning himself in at the Santa Monica Police Department at about 8 pm Saturday.
Campbell was allegedly living in his car with a history of minor run-ins with the law including convictions dating back to 2002 for drunkenness in public and lighting an illegal fire, according to reports.
