Our Crazy System

I logged on to the DR last night and this is what I found! CRAZY

Appeals for councilman’s killers move forward

Matt Garcia

FAIRFIELD — After languishing for more than a year, the appeals of murder convictions for the killers of Fairfield City Councilman Matt Garcia in 2008 moved slowly forward this past week.

Henry D. Williams, the man who shot Garcia in a case of mistaken identity, was ordered Wednesday to have his written appeal to the Court of Appeals in San Francisco by Feb. 9.

The appeal of Williams’ accomplice, Gene A. Combs, is due to the court Feb. 6.

Both killers started their appeals in 2010, after juries found them guilty of murdering Garcia.

While transcripts and case records for Combs’ appeal were received by the Court of Appeal in March 2011, attorneys wanted more information about the court proceedings. This week they received additional documents, such as the jury seating chart, the questionnaires of potential jurors and any juror notes penned during deliberations.

In separate jury trials in 2010, Williams and Combs were convicted of murder. Williams was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Combs got 25 years to life in prison.

Williams and Combs had gone to Cordelia seeking a drug dealer who had stiffed Combs for $50 in a methamphetamine buy earlier in the day. As the pair drove from the dealer’s home on the night of Sept. 1, 2008, Williams saw Garcia drive past and thought it may be the dealer. He fired several shots toward Garcia, striking him once in the back of the head.

Attorneys handling appeals frequently ask and typically receive additional time and extensions of deadlines.