Jail visit for Laurean concerns DA

[unhappycamper]

Jail visit for Laurean concerns DA
By Kevin Maurer - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 6, 2008 16:51:16 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The wife of a Marine charged with murdering a pregnant colleague has been allowed to visit her husband in a Mexican jail, a North Carolina prosecutor said Thursday.

Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson said the Marine Corps granted leave Nov. 3 to 17 to Lance Cpl. Christina Laurean to visit her husband, Cpl. Cesar Laurean, 21.

Cesar Laurean is charged with first-degree murder in the December death of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, 20, of Vandalia, Ohio, who had accused him of rape. He fled a day before Lauterbach’s body and that of her fetus were found buried in his backyard. He is fighting extradition.

Christina Laurean has cooperated with authorities and refused her husband’s pleas for help before he was caught, officials said. Hudson said that in most cases a spouse cannot be forced to testify at a trial.

Hudson said he didn’t know if the trip would affect Christina Laurean’s willingness to cooperate. He also said Mexican jails allow prisoners a conjugal visit on their birthday — Cesar Laurean’s is Nov. 13.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_lauterbach_update_110608w/%2e