Parents of woman shot at Trolley renew court appeal

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 26, 2008 | by Ben Winslow Deseret Morning News

The parents of one of the victims of the Trolley Square massacre have renewed their appeal to be declared "crime victims" of the man who sold a gun to her killer.

In papers filed Friday with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Sue and Ken Antrobus also ask the federal court to force the U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah to hand over documents that show Mackenzie Hunter knew Trolley Square gunman Sulejman Talovic was going to use a .38 Special to commit a violent crime.

The gun was used to kill 29-year-old Vanessa Quinn during the Feb. 12 mall rampage that ended with five dead and four wounded. Talovic, 18, died in a shootout with police.

Hunter is about to begin serving a 15-month federal prison sentence for selling the weapon to Talovic, who paid $800 for it in a quickie deal in a McDonald's parking lot.

"The government should be required to admit (either here or in district court) whether or not it has information that Talovic told Hunter he wanted the gun for a possible bank robbery (or other violent crime)," the Antrobuses' attorney, Paul Cassell, wrote in court papers.

The U.S. Attorney's Office told the Deseret Morning News earlier this week it would comply with the 10th Circuit's decision, whatever it may be.

The Antrobuses are seeking to be declared "victims" under the Crime Victims Rights Act. It would allow them to speak at sentencing, seek restitution and push for a harsher sentence. A federal judge in Salt Lake City denied their request just before Hunter was sentenced, and the 10th Circuit Court initially denied it.

On Friday, lawyers for the family also asked the full 10th Circuit Court to hear their appeal. If they are successful in their appeal, Hunter would likely be resentenced.

Lawyers for the Antrobuses have said they would likely take their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com