- Aug. 31 1985 - Richard Ramirez is arrested, booked and taken to Central Jail.
- Sept. 3 - He is arraigned in Los Angeles Municipal Court.
- Sept. 5 - At two separate police lineups, numerous witnesses identify Ramirez as the Night Stalker.
- Oct. 24 - Defendant pleads not guilty, yelling “Hail Satan” as he is led from the courtroom.
- March 3 1986 - Preliminary hearing begins in Municipal Court.
- May 6 - After 143 witnesses and 531 exhibits, Judge James Nelson orders Ramirez to stand trial in Superior Court on murder, attempted murder, burglary, rape, oral copulation and sodomy charges.
- May 21 - Ramirez pleads not guilty.
- Dec. 2 - Superior Court Judge [Michael A. Tynan] is assigned to the case.
- Nov. 23 1987 - At prosecution’s request, Tynan dismisses one of the 14 murder counts against Ramirez.
- July 21 1988 - Jury selection begins.
- Jan. 23 1989 - From a panel of nearly 1,600 L.A. County residents, 12 jurors and 12 alternates are chosen and sworn in.
- Jan. 30 - Trial begins with prosecution’s opening statement. The first of more than 165 witnesses testifies.
- May 2 - Prosecution rests.
- May 9 - Defense opens case.
- July 12-25 - Closing arguments by both sides.
- July 26 - Judge instructs jurors who begin deliberating, taking with them more than 8,000 pages of trial transcripts and 655 exhibits.
- Sept. 20 - Ramirez is convicted of 13 murders and 30 other felonies. Jurors also find that special circumstances existed, making Ramirez eligible for the death penalty.
may 23 2012 ∞
may 23 2012 +