Court again postpones Leif Ames murder trial after his attorney begins another trial; no new date set

A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge on Wednesday postponed a murder trial for Leif Ames that had been scheduled to start April 6, after the defendant’s attorney requested another delay. At this point, there is no new trial date. 

Ames faces murder charges in the fatal stabbing of his best friend, Hubert Cross, six years ago at Ames’ Live Oak home. 

Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel has granted at least seven delays since the trial was originally scheduled to start in March 2022. In hearing after hearing, Assistant District Attorney Kristal Salcido, the lead prosecutor, objected to the delays and expressed the frustration felt by the family of the victim, including Cross’ wife, Otilia. 

“Justice needs to be served for this victim and this family,” said Salcido. “We are ready to take this case out to trial – we have been for years.” 

Jamyrson Pittori, Ames’ defense attorney, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. In December, she told the court she couldn’t start the trial that month because she had a double-homicide trial. When Siegel scheduled the April 6 date, Pittori said she had a vacation scheduled and wouldn’t cancel it. Siegel said she must cancel, and Pittori responded, “OK, set it whenever you want.”

But after finishing the double-homicide trial, she started another one, and last week filed a motion to postpone the Ames trial yet again. 

Salcido said she found out about Pittori taking on the new trial last week only after Pittori filed the motion. 

“Defense picked the date in December and said that she would be ready, and she’s not,” said Salcido. “She finished that last homicide several weeks ago and got into a different homicide in Santa Clara County.”

During the hearing at Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Wednesday, Pittori and Ames were not present. Attorney Marsanne Weese represented Pittori remotely and told the court that the trial she just started is expected to last about four months and has six co-defendants.  

Weese said Pittori plans to file a motion to add another attorney to work with her on the Ames case so that as soon as she finishes the case she just started, she can begin the Ames case: “That may make it go quicker.” 

Salcido asked the court to schedule monthly check-ins with Pittori to ensure that they can schedule and commit to another trial date. Because Pittori is in a homicide trial with six defendants, the court and the parties are waiting until that case advances to determine a new court date in the Ames proceedings. The first check-in meeting is scheduled for April 22.