AZ: Rose and Norma Lopez - Prosecutors undecided on DP
Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:25AM
Edward James Rose, left, and Norma Lisa Lopez, both 19, are charged in connection with the death of Phoenix police Officer George Cortez Jr. 23.
Prosecutors undecided on death penalty
Dianna M. Náñez
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 30, 2007
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office clarified Sunday that
prosecutors have not formally made a decision on whether to pursue
the death penalty against Edward James Rose and Norma Lisa Lopez.
A representative of the office had told a judge at the suspects'
initial court appearance Saturday that prosecutors planned to seek
the death penalty.
The Maricopa County Superior Court's Web site shows that an arrest
warrant for Rose and an accompanying petition to revoke his probation
on an earlier criminal case were issued a day before the shooting.
The warrant stemmed from a September plea bargain in which Rose
pleaded guilty to one felony count of endangerment and one
misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Under the plea
bargain, Rose was sentenced to three years of probation.
Also in September, according to Tolleson Municipal court records,
Rose pleaded guilty to one count of drug-paraphernalia possession/use
while the court dismissed one count of carrying a concealed weapon
without a permit.
Tiffany Cortez said she is relieved that suspects have been arrested
in her husband's shooting. But she said no matter what happens to
Rose and Lopez, it will not bring her husband back. She asked the
public to push for additional funding to place more police officers
on Valley streets.
"I firmly believe that if my husband had had a partner with him, he'd
be alive today," Tiffany said. "We'd be at church, and getting ready
for the baseball game and our friend's birthday party."
Funeral services are being planned for Cortez at Community Church of
Joy in Glendale, near 75th Avenue and Loop 101.
Republic reporter Elias Arnold contributed to this article.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... e0730.html
