Sacramento State student Sarah Dutra appeared in San Joaquin County Superior Court last Thursday, where a June 24 preliminary hearing date was set for the murder of attorney Larry McNabney.

Dutra has been charged with helping McNabney?s wife murder him, and she could face the death penalty if found guilty. The art major has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The senior worked in McNabney?s Sacramento law office, and the attorney was last seen Sept. 10, 2001. His wife, Laren Sims, disappeared in January and was apprehended in Florida in March.

Sims then hanged herself in her Florida jail cell March 30.

Sims left behind a letter implicating Dutra in the murder, and Dutra?s attorney, Kevin Clymo, has challenged the validity of the document, citing Sims? previous criminal record. Though such notes left by the deceased are generally not included in criminal cases, prosecutors Thomas Testa will try to use the letter, rather than call as many as 64 witnesses.

A hearing on those arguments will be held May 6.

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