Judge: No separate trials for Jus Brothers

OFF THE WIRE
By The Record
August 09, 2010 11:26 AMSTOCKTON – A judge today refused to hold separate trials for two Jus Brother Motorcycle Club members awaiting a retrial in connection with a 2004 brawl that left one man dead.

The attorney for Robert Kenneth Memory sought the severance because she didn't want her client associated with Frankie Joe Prater, who stands accused of killing 22-year-old Mark Donahue. Memory is accused of stabbing – but not killing – two others.

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge William Murray said they will be tried together. Among his reasons, Murray said it is economical for the court and saves the witnesses and victims from going through two more trials.

Memory and Prater had been convicted and sent to prison. But the state's 3rd District Court of Appeals overturned the convictions, bringing them back for a new trial. Murray also delayed the trial, which had been set to begin in August.

Read Tuesday's Record for more on this story by staff writer Scott Smith.