Ernest Scherer III To Discover Trial Fate This Friday

The professional gambler and poker player Ernest Scherer III, will discover this Friday whether he will stand trial for the murder of his parents, Ernest Scherer Jr., 60, and his wife Charlene Abendroth, 57, back in March 2008.
Ernest Scherer III had carved a living out as a professional poker player with tournament earnings in excess of $330,000, but prosecutors say he was in financial difficulties and “was living a very expensive lie.” Scherer was living with his wife and 2 year old child at their $1 million Brea, Orange County home but in the meantime was dating a number of other women, had rung up credit card debts worth $40,000 and owed $616,000 on a mortgage loan.
Alameda County Deputy District Attorney David Stein told Judge Jeffrey Horner that Scherer “murdered his parents for financial gain” as he stood to receive $1.5 million from their demise. Their badly stabbed and beaten bodies were discovered on March 14, 2008 although they were believed to have been killed a week earlier, and if found guilty Scherer could face the death penalty.
David Stein points to a series of suspicious events to prove Scherer’s guilt which includes him having his cell phone uncharacteristically turned off for 17 hours on the day of the murders so as to avoid being pin pointed at the scene of the crime. In addition, a security camera captured a red Chevrolet Camaro similar to Scherer’s driving to and from his parent’s house on the day in question, and soon after he had his car washed and four new tyres put on his car which was described as “completely unnecessary.”
Stein also pointed out that Scherer’s research concerning obtaining a false ID and passport, as well as locating countries without extradition arrangements with the US “shows consciousness of guilt and that is most incriminating.”
The defence lawyer, Foxhall, argued that Stein had failed to mention any concrete facts but instead was “talking about a possible series of events,” to indicate “possible cause, not probable cause.” 
After longer than usual closing arguments by Stein and Foxhall, the decision whether Scherer will stand trial was deferred until Friday as Judge Horner said “In view of the hour, it’s not appropriate for me to make a ruling today.”