Merritt trial trudges on without lead defense attorney

The murder trial of Charles “Chase” Merritt, who is accused of killing a Fallbrook family of four in 2010 and burying their bodies in a San Bernardino desert, started back in early January of this year.

With more than four months of testimony being presented to the jury of eight women, four men and six alternates – along with multiple delays – questions surrounding how long some of the jurors would hang in with the trial had begun to surface.

One of the 12 jurors bowed out Tuesday, April 30, and was replaced by an alternate.

Lead defense attorney James McGee has remained absent from the procee...