Confession Not Allowed As Evidence

The confession of a man who told FBI agents he and two others were responsible for the killings of three tourists will not be allowed as evidence in the trial of Yosemite killer Cary Stayner.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Thomas Hastings turned down a request today by Stayner´s lawyers to present the alleged confession of Eugene “Rufus” Dykes to undercut the reliability of Stayner´s admissions they claim were coerced.

Dykes was among a group of Stanislaus County methamphetamine users that became the FBI´s focus when the tourists disappeared from Cedar Lodge in 1999.

Stayner´s lawyers claim their client killed three Yosemite tourists because he was insane. He could get the death penalty if convicted on the state murder charges in this case.