Point Reyes Light - October 23, 2003
Bishop suspect claims insanity
By Andrew Pridgen
A man accused of murdering Woodacre resident Selina Bishop, her mother, and three others in 2000, last week changed his plea from "not guilty" to "not guilty by reason of insanity" during a hearing in Contra Costa Superior Court.
Justin Helzer, 31, of Concord, had been accused of five murders with "special circumstances" (an augmentation that could make him eligible for the death penalty), two counts each of kidnapping and robbery, one count each of extortion, conspiracy, burglary, and possession of drugs for sale.
Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Mary Ann O’Malley gave Helzer’s attorney, Daniel E. Cook, one month to have two psychologists to examine Helzer and report their findings to the court by Friday, Nov. 14.
The judge, however, told Helzer’s attorney if the evaluation of Helzer has not been completed by next month’s deadline, she would consider granting more time.
Originally, the trial was set to begin on Monday, Oct. 27. The trial is now set to begin on March 1.
Contra Costa Deputy District Attorney Hal Jewett told The Light Tuesday that the "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea could lengthen the prosecution.
"It certainly adds an additional phase," Jewett said. "It’s now a question of fact for the jury: if the defendant is found guilty, we then go to a sanity ... phase. If he is found sane, there would be a penalty phase. If he is not [sane], he will be sent to a state [mental] facility."
Ostensibly, the insanity plea "doesn’t really change anything in our position," prosecutor Jewett said.
In August, co-defendant Dawn Godman, 29, of Concord cut a deal with prosecutors to "truthfully" testify against Helzer and his older brother, Glenn Taylor Helzer, 33, also of Concord, in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Godman now faces a 37-year-eight-months-to-life sentence. Prior to her plea bargain she faced charges which might have sentenced her to life in prison without the chance of parole.
In the summer of 2000, Bishop, her mother Jenny Villarin, and a friend of Villarin, James Gamble, were murdered as a part of an elaborate scheme to extort $100,000 from two elderly Concord residents, Ivan and Anette Stineman.
The scheme included using 22-year-old Bishop, daughter of Forest Knolls rock guitarist Elvin Bishop. Glenn Helzer allegedly told Selina Bishop that he was receiving an inheritance and would pay her to help him handle the money.
Girl was allegedly duped
Bishop, who was dating Helzer at the time of the crime, was to deposit money for Helzer in her bank account.
Her mother Villarin, who was a bartender at the Papermill Creek Saloon in Forest Knolls, and Gamble were found shot to death on Aug. 3, 2000, in Bishop’s Woodacre apartment.
Days later, authorities found the dismembered remains of Bishop and the Stinemans in numerous duffel bags that had been dumped into the Sacramento River Delta.
The Helzers and former housemate Godman were arrested shortly afterwards.