Luong’s Lawyers Denied Travel Money

Bayou La Batre Bridge Tragedy Lam Luong's defense team wants to go to Vietnam. The judge denies request.. calling it a "fishing expedition."

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Thu, November 13, 2008 - 6:05 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, November 13, 2008 - 6:12 pm CST

You taxpayer dollars won't be spent to send lawyers to Vietnam in the Lam Luong capital murder case.

Luong is the Irvington man accused of tossing his four young children off the Dauphin Island Bridge in January. Judge Charles Graddick called the defense teams' request to travel a "fishing expedition."

Luong was born in Vietnam and left as a teenager. His biological mother and other family members are still there. His lawyers wanted to travel to his home country to learn more about his childhood.

Judge Graddick denied travel money but will allow funds to be spent on teleconferencing.

Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson likes that idea. "In this particular case, I think the judge has found a very interesting, imaginative way to arrive at justice without spending money unnecessarily."

Defense lawyer Greg Hughes wouldn't give us a price tag on the trip but Tyson believes the ballpark figure was $17,000.

Luong has pleaded not guilty in this case and it's set to go to trial in March 2009. Before sealing a document in court, Graddick said that Luong talked to a psychiatrist twice in the past month and said he wants the death penalty.

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CypMrk Says:

Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 8:39 pm

Thank you Judge Graddick for this common sense decision. I’m glad that “you tax dollars” won’t be spent on such a foolish venture.

DEW26M Says:

Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 7:26 pm

If he REALLY wanted the death penalty, why would he plead not guilty? Save us all some money and reoccurring emotions. They’ll probably end up putting him in a rubber room for about 25 years anyway. :-(