Lawyers for murder suspects ask for more time before trials

Lawyers for two murder suspects asked a judge for more time to prepare their cases before heading to trial.

Prudencio J. Fragos-Ramirez and Kenyatta K.E. Bridges appeared Thursday in Franklin County Superior Court for hearings in their separate cases.

Kennewick attorney Scott Johnson asked Judge Carrie Runge to push the hearing back four weeks so more work could be done on the case. It’s possible that Fragos-Ramirez’s trial date could be rescheduled at a future hearing.

The Franklin County man is accused of killing Maria G. Cruiz-Calvillo, 18, and her son, Luis F. Lopez-Cruz, 3. The mother and son were found shot and burned in a Franklin County ravine last July.

Fragos-Ramirez has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Karla Kane Hudson, Bridge’s defense attorney, asked Runge to reset his trial while she works to interview other possible witnesses. The defense and prosecutors agreed to try and work out another trial date over the next week.

Bridges is charged with first-degree murder while he or an accomplice was armed with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and second-degree unlawful possession of a gun in the death of Lorenzo “Richie” Fernandez Jr.

Bridges’ co-defendant in the case, DeShawn Anderson, is scheduled to appear in court next week. Prosecutors indicated Thursday that a plea deal may have been reached in the case.

Fernandez was gunned down Dec. 3, 2014, while in a car at the Stonegate Apartments in Pasco.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Lawyers for murder suspects ask for more time before trials."