Judge Admits Letters Between Dally and Haun as Evidence

Jurors in the upcoming murder trial of Michael Dally will see some of the more than 70 letters Dally exchanged with the woman who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering his wife in 1996.

In a closed-door hearing, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell ruled Wednesday to admit the letters Dally exchanged with Diana Haun after she had been arrested for the crime.

In the letters, Dally referred to Haun as his “true soul mate” and urged her to “stay strong” while she awaited trial.

Only portions of the letters have been made public since investigators seized them after searching Haun’s cell in November 1996.

Just over a month ago, Haun was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for kidnapping and killing Sherri Dally on May 6, 1996.

Prosecutors allege that Michael Dally conspired with Haun to kill his wife, in part because he did not want to go through a costly divorce or risk losing his two sons in a custody battle.

Dally’s defense team will argue in his trial that he did not know of Haun’s jealous actions or plans to kill his wife.

Campbell made his ruling Wednesday while sorting through some of the dozens of pretrial motions. He already has ruled to allow evidence regarding allegations that Dally used drugs, had relations with prostitutes and practiced Satanism.

But Campbell held off on making a decision about a defense motion to include evidence that Haun had stalked a former lover and harassed the man’s wife.

The defense wants to present evidence that Haun stalked Ann McGinty, the wife of her former lover, Chris McGinty. The McGintys separated at the time of Chris McGinty’s affair with Haun and they have since divorced.

But after Haun’s breakup with McGinty, Haun allegedly followed Ann McGinty, taunted her with hang-up calls and left objects--including a toy duck with a severed head--on her doorstep.

The evidence was not allowed during Haun’s trial, but Dally’s attorneys said Wednesday that the evidence was crucial to their case.

“It shows what she’s done in the past,” Robert Schwartz said. “It shows that she dates married men, that when she has problems she takes drastic action. . . . It shows she would do anything so she would not lose another married boyfriend.”

Jury selection is set to begin Jan. 12 in Santa Barbara.