Local News in Brief : Slayer of Policeman to Act as Own Co-Counsel

A 33-year-old North Hollywood man convicted last week of killing an off-duty Los Angeles police officer will be allowed to serve as co-counsel during the penalty phase of his trial, a judge has ruled.

Daniel Steven Jenkins, who was convicted July 27 of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the 1985 shooting of Detective Thomas C. Williams, will be allowed to question witnesses and make one of two closing defense arguments to jurors, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Judith Meisels Ashmann has ruled.

Jenkins had asked for permission to discharge his court-appointed attorneys, Howard R. Price and Janet S. Sherman, and represent himself during the penalty phase, which is scheduled for Monday. Ashmann agreed instead to grant Jenkins co-counsel status.

Jenkins shot Williams, 42, eight times with an automatic pistol in retaliation for Williams’ testimony against him in a robbery trial.

Jenkins faces the death penalty or life in prison without chance of parole because he was convicted of the special circumstance of killing a police officer in retaliation for the performance of his duties.