A judge today ordered Dupree Pierre Barber to stand trial for murder in the Jan. 23 shooting death of Cordova Recreation and Park District maintenance supervisor Steve Ebert.
Judge Marjorie Koller found that there was enough evidence to suggest that Barber, 48, was lying in wait when he allegedly killed Ebert, 59. Deputy District Attorney Rod Norgaard said before today's preliminary hearing that prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty on Barber, meaning the defendant would face a life term in prison with no chance of parole if he is convicted.
At today's hearing, Sacramento sheriff's Det. Stan Swisher testified that employees at the park district told him that Barber had recently been laid off prior to the killing of Ebert. Barber also had filed a racial discrimination complaint in 2009 against Ebert and other district officials. Barber later dropped the suit.
Swisher testified that Barber purchased a new car shortly before Ebert was slain. The same vehicle, the detective said, was found close to where Ebert was shot and killed around 6 a.m. coming to work at Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova. The car had a .357 revolver that had been fired six tiimes on the rear floorboard.
PHOTO CAPTION: Dupree Pierre Barber. Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee









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