The court case of the former Twentynine Palms Marine accused of killing his former lover and dumping her body down a mine shaft, will continue under a different judge. On Tuesday, the Fourth District Court of Appeals granted a peremptory challenge by Christopher Lee’s attorney to change judges. In April, Lee’s attorney, David Kaloyanides, requested that Judge Rodney Cortez transfer the murder case from his courtroom to that of Judge Bert Swift. Cortez denied the motion, saying that the request for a change in judges had been filed too late. Lee’s lawyer then filed a peremptory challenge with the Court of Appeals, which ruled “A challenge should be permitted at any time unless clearly prohibited by the statute.” Lee, 25, is accused of strangling Erin Corwin, 19, a year ago, and then disposing of her body in a mine shaft east of Twentynine Palms. Christopher Lee’s next court appearance is July 27.
FORMER MARINE ACCUSED IN MURDER OF ERIN CORWIN GETS NEW JUDGE
