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Name: People v. Crisler
Case #: C057920
Court: CA Court of Appeal
District 3 DCA
Opinion Date: 08/15/2008
Summary

Direct restitution order for costs of murder victim’s parents attendance at trial was proper. Crisler contended on appeal from his first degree murder conviction that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding direct victim restitution of nearly $10,000 to the victim’s parents for lost wages, mileage, and parking fees incurred while attending the 15-day murder trial. He contended that since the parents did not testify or aid the prosecution, the award went beyond the language and intent of the statute. The appellate court rejected the argument and affirmed the judgment. The parents were victims of Crisler’s criminal conduct, and suffered trauma inherent in the murder of their son as well as other expenses related to their attendance at the trial. The expenses readily qualified as economic loss incurred as the result of the defendant’s conduct since they would not have been incurred had Crisler not murdered their son. It is entirely reasonable that the parents of a murder victim will attend the trial in an attempt to gain closure.