Federal Trial Set in Slaying of Yosemite Naturalist

FRESNO — The trial of handyman Cary Stayner in the death of Yosemite naturalist Joie Ruth Armstrong has been set for Oct. 17, 2000, in federal court.

The U.S. Justice Department turned down the state’s request to try Stayner first in the slayings of tourists Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso, resolving a behind-the-scenes turf war between federal and state prosecutors over who will get the first crack at the suspect.

“This case is unusually complex,” said U.S. District Judge Anthony Ishii, citing the 12,000 pages of evidence against Stayner and the probability that prosecutors will seek the death penalty as reasons Wednesday for putting off the trial until next fall.

The Justice Department will decide whether to seek capital punishment after a Jan. 10 hearing on the issue.

Stayner, 38, has been in jail since his arrest days after Armstrong, 26, was killed in the park July 21. The case falls under federal jurisdiction because she was killed within Yosemite’s borders. --Associated Press