Double murder suspect accuses judge of bias
BRENT ENGEL/COURIIER-POST

By BRENT ENGEL
Hannibal Courier-Post
Posted Sep 10, 2010 @ 12:00 PM


Hannibal, MO — A Hannibal murder suspect claims letters from the victims’ families so profoundly influenced a judge that a fair trial is impossible unless another magistrate is appointed, court documents show.
Thirty-three-year-old Manuel G. Cazares is asking St. Charles County Circuit Judge Ted House to recuse himself.
House on Thursday said he would consider the request. A decision could be issued by next week.
Cazares, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action in the Feb. 28, 2009, stabbing deaths of 27-year-old Amanda R. Thomas and 25-year-old C. Patrick Epley.

The root of Cazares’ request Thursday dates to April 6, when his attorney, public defender Todd Schulze, and Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Redington met with House to discuss a plea bargain.
The agreement called for Cazares to plead guilty in exchange for being sentenced to no more than 30 years in prison.

If convicted by a jury of all the charges he faces, Cazares could get 90 years behind bars.

Family members of Thomas and Epley wrote letters to House to request that he reject the plea bargain. House did so, calling the 30-year sentence “too lenient.â€