Farrell has already scored a major victory. In mid-October, the California parole board found Sanchez suitable for parole. The recommendation will go before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in February.
The case against Sanchez was riddled with holes from the start, Farrell said. At the time of the incident, Sanchez, a Mexican immigrant who spoke no English, was operating her own small shop two storefronts down from the scene of the fire. The prosecution argued that the crime was financially motivated, Farrell said, and that Sanchez’s business was suffering from unwanted competition brought on by her neighbor. Tax records show, however, that her shop was prospering.
In addition, the defendant had multiple witnesses to corroborate her alibi — she was with her children at a friend’s house at the time the crime took place. Sanchez’s public defender called only one witness, Sanchez’ sister, to the stand to testify. It is normal, Farrell said, for jurors to disregard a witness who is related to the defendant because jurors assume such a witness would be willing to lie.
Lastly, the prosecution’s key witness, who was in the building when the fire ignited but was able to escape, kept changing his version of the story, Farrell said.
“The problem is that that eyewitness’ testimony changed dramatically from his initial interview to the trial. At first, the witness said he was asleep and he woke up to flames and ran up to the gate and saw Rosie and someone else running away Later he said he was awake and said he actually saw Rosie throw through the mail slot the thing that set the building on fire, some sort of lit rag.”
