2 07-29-87 10:19 ped calif., krishna states will be led MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (UPI) _ A heari

     2  07-29-87 10:19 ped

 calif., krishna states
 will be led
   MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (UPI) _ A hearing is scheduled today in Marshall
County Circuit Court where a judge will be asked to delay the
extradition hearing of Hare Krishna devotee Thomas Drescher, who is
wanted in California for murder, a prosecutor says.
   Marshall County Prosecutor Thomas White said Wednesday he wants
Marshall Circuit Judge Steven Narick to delay the hearing because of the
unavailability of a witness from California.
   White said he wants at least a one-week delay of the hearing,
originally scheduled to be held this Friday. The witness isn't a Krishna
devotee, White said.
   Drescher is wanted in California to stand trial for the 1986 murder
of Krishna dissident Steven Bryant of Los Angeles.
   Drescher has refused to go willingly to California so Narick must
decide whether the charges in California warrant Drescher's transfer.
   Drescher is serving a life sentence in the West Virginia
Penitentiary for the 1983 murder of Krishna devotee Charles Saint Denis.


     3  07-30-87 10:46 aed

 calif., krishna states
 (judge delays hearing until Aug. 13)
   MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (UPI) _ The extradition hearing for Hare Krishna
devotee Thomas Drescher, who is wanted in California for murder, has
been rescheduled until next month by a Marshall County Circuit Court
judge.
   Judge Steven Narick today delayed until Aug. 13 the hearing
originally scheduled to be held this Friday. He changed the date at the
request of Marshall County Prosecutor Thomas White who said a delay was
necessary because of the unavailability of a witness from California.
   White said the witness, an employee at a car rental agency, will
testify he saw Drescher in Los Angeles on May 22, 1986 _ the day Krishna
dissident Steven Bryant was fatally shot. Drescher has been charged with
murder in Bryant's death.
   Drescher has refused to go willingly to California so Narick must
decide whether the charges in California warrant Drescher's transfer.
   Drescher is serving a life sentence in the West Virginia
Penitentiary for the 1983 murder of Krishna devotee Charles Saint Denis.
He was convicted in January by a Preston County Circuit Court jury.
   The inmate said today his lawyer intends to file a motion within a
week in Preston County seeking a four-month extension to file an appeal
of his conviction for the Saint Denis murder.
   Drescher said the motion would delay his extradition. He said a
four-month extension is needed because his original lawyer has taken
another job and Drescher needs time to discuss his murder conviction
appeal with his new attorney.
   Drescher said he believes his constitutional rights were violated
before, during and after the Saint Denis trial.

     4  07-30-87 02:34 ped

   Editors: The United Press International West Virginia news report
for Friday morning newspapers will include:
   (DRESCHER) Moundsville _ Extradition hearing for Hare Krishna
devotee Thomas Drescher, who is wanted in California for murder, delayed
until Aug. 13; he says appeal of previous murder conviction could delay
transfer west. 300.


     5  07-30-87 04:45 ped

 calif., n.y., krishna states
 Drescher's extradition hearing delayed until Aug. 13
   MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (UPI) _ The extradition hearing for Hare Krishna
devotee Thomas Drescher, who is wanted in California for murdering a
dissident follower, has been rescheduled until next month by a Marshall
County judge.
   Meanwhile, Drescher said Thursday he wants more time to file an
appeal of a previous murder conviction. Such a request in court could
mean a four-month delay in his extradition, he said.
   On Thursday, Marshall Circuit Judge Steven Narick delayed until
Aug. 13 the hearing originally scheduled for this Friday. He changed the
date at the request of Marshall County Prosecutor Thomas White, who said
a delay was necessary because of the unavailability of a witness from
California.
   White said the witness, an employee at a car rental agency, will
testify he saw Drescher in Los Angeles on May 22, 1986 _ the day Krishna
dissident Steven Bryant was gunned down. Drescher has been charged with
murder in Bryant's death.
   Drescher has refused to go willingly to California so Narick must
decide whether the charges in California warrant Drescher's transfer.
   Drescher is serving a life sentence in the West Virginia
Penitentiary for the 1983 murder of Krishna devotee Charles Saint Denis.
He was found guilty in January by a Preston County Circuit Court jury.
   The inmate said Thursday his lawyer intends to file a motion within
a week in Preston County seeking a four-month extension to file an
appeal of his conviction for the Saint Denis murder.
   Drescher said the motion would delay his extradition. He said a
four-month extension is needed because his original lawyer has taken
another job and Drescher needs time to discuss his murder conviction
appeal with his new attorney, Mark Karl of Moundsville.
   Drescher, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., said he believes his
constitutional rights were violated before, during and after the Saint
Denis trial. He said he intends to file the appeal in the West Virginia
Supreme Court.
   White said he believes Drescher has had his new lawyer for at least
one month and has had enough time to prepare the appeal. He said he will
urge the Preston County judge to deny any motions for an extension and
urge the Marshall County judge to immediately extradite Descher to
California should he approve the move.