Ariz. boy accused in slayings to appear in court

[November 10, 2008]  ST. JOHNS, Ariz. (AP) -- An 8-year-old boy is due in court two counts of premeditated murder as mourners prepare to remember his father.

The third-grader is due in court Monday, the same day as a funeral Mass is scheduled to be held for his dad at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Police say the boy confessed to planning and carrying out the shooting deaths of 29-year-old Vincent Romero and a co-worker who rented a room from him. The men were found dead inside Romero's home northeast of Phoenix last week.

St. Johns police are hoping a judge will agree to try the boy as an adult but admit it's unlikely.

The boy's attorney says police questioned his client without representation from a parent or attorney and didn't advise the child of his rights.

[Associated Press]

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