By Emily Alpert
Gilroy
– The man accused of killing former Garlic Queen Franca Barsi
winked and smiled at family members, who packed one side of the
South County Courthouse Thursday. On the other side, Barsi’s family
sat, stone-faced, as attorneys delayed David Reyes’ plea another
month, to Jan. 26.
Gilroy – The man accused of killing former Garlic Queen Franca Barsi winked and smiled at family members, who packed one side of the South County Courthouse Thursday. On the other side, Barsi’s family sat, stone-faced, as attorneys delayed David Reyes’ plea another month, to Jan. 26.
Reyes is accused of the murder of Barsi, the single mother Reyes dated on and off before her body was found Sept. 13 at her Gilroy condominium.
The next day, after an hour-long car chase from San Jose to Gilroy and back, Reyes submitted to police, confessing to Barsi’s murder, Detective Mitch Madruga said. The two had quarreled, and Reyes said he had killed her in anger.
Reyes’ plea has now been delayed twice since Oct. 20. As he rose to leave, his family lingered in the courtroom. Only when he was out of the room, and the door had completely shut, did the crowd file slowly out of the room.
Emily Alpert covers public safety for The Dispatch. She can be reached at 408-847-7158.
