1.
SV Corona out of car, led up steps into court building (2 shots)
0.21

2.
SV INT Reporters
0.24

3.
LV & CU THROUGH COURT WINDOW Corona in courtroom (3 shots)
0.42

4.
LV Defence Attorney with reporters
0.47

5.
CU Attorney speaking
1.10

6.
SV Coronal led out with coat over head
1.25


TRANSCRIPT: COMMENTATOR: "Juan Corona arrived for arraignment in Yuba City Justice Courts. He seemed somewhat confused by the crush of photographers and policemen around him. At the request of Corona's attorney all spectators and newsmen were barred from the courtroom. But through a window in the rear door reporters were able to see Corona during the ten-minute proceeding. The 37-year-old farm labour contractor said little. His attorney entered pleas of "Not Guilty" to each count of murder. He asked disclosure of all the District Attorney's evidence. Afterwards the attorney was asked why reporters and the public had been barred.



ATTORNEY: "Very simply, to try to keep this thing in perspective...." background babble....."....certainly the defendant's under a great deal of pressure."



REPORTER: "What about the possibility of an insanity plea?"



ATTORNEY: "Not considering that at the time."



COMMENTATOR: "Corona was led out with his coat over his head, to prevent further pictures. On June Sixteenth he'll return to court to determine if the evidence against him is strong enough to put him on trial."




Initials BB/0023 WLW/PW/BB/0030


TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Alleged mass murderer Juan Corona pleaded not guilty at Yuba City Court yesterday (June 2) to slaying ten of the 24 migrant labourers whose bodies were discovered in an orchard last month. Press and public were barred from the courtroom during the brief hearing at the request of Corona's attorney. The accused, a 37-year-old Mexican who speaks little English and needed an interpreter at the hearing, was then returned to his cell in the nearby Marysville Jail. This film, showing the scene at the courthouse, has a voice-on-film commentary for use.

For translation purposes a transcript of the commentary is included on this page.