Quick Take
A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge has scheduled the murder trial of Leif Ames for April 6, 2026, six years after he was charged with fatally stabbing his best friend, Hubert Cross, in his Live Oak home. The trial has been delayed at least seven times since 2022, with prosecutors saying they have long been ready for trial while continuances were repeatedly granted due to defense attorney requests.
A Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge on Friday scheduled a murder trial for Leif Ames for April 6, 2026 — six years after he was charged with fatally stabbing his best friend, Hubert Cross, in Ames’ Live Oak home.
Since the first trial date was scheduled for March 2022, Judge Stephen Siegel has granted at least seven delays. Most recently, Siegel had scheduled the start of the trial for Dec. 15, but Ames’ attorney, Jamyrson Pittori, said she couldn’t attend because she’s scheduled for another trial, a double homicide.
On Friday morning after the hearing, the lead prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Kristal Salcido, told Lookout that prosecutors have been ready from the start to try the case, but over the years Ames’ four different attorneys have been granted requests to postpone.
“We want to try this case,” she said. “We were ready any time this year, [if it weren’t] for the defense’s continuances and the judge granting them, we would have been ready.”
Speaking to the parties from the bench, Siegel acknowledged the delays. Pittori, who attended the hearing virtually because she’s in trial, said she wouldn’t be available for the jury trial on April 6 because she had a vacation scheduled.
“You’re going to cancel,” said Siegel, to which Pittori said, “No, I’m not.”
Siegel responded by saying the case had been delayed and they would move forward with the dates he set. Pittori replied: “OK, set it whenever you want.”
Siegel set a trial readiness hearing for March 25, 2026, at 9 a.m.
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