11/25/2002

By DOUG IRVING, TERESA BELL and KYLE IBOSHI, KGW Staff

A judge on Monday denied bail for accused double murderer Ward Weaver, saying the "presumption is strong" that he is guilty of killing two girls whose bodies were found at his house.

Weaver appeared in court for a release hearing Monday, days after prosecutors detailed some of the evidence they will bring against the man accused of killing two Oregon City girls.

Ward Weaver. (KGW Photo/Clackamas County Sheriff's Office)

Weaver's lawyer, Tim Lyons, complained to Judge Robert Herndon that he received notice of the bail hearing on Friday and didn't have time to prepare for it.

Meanwhile, Herndon scheduled jury selection to begin Sept. 16.

Weaver will stand trial for the aggravated murders of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, whose bodies were found in his backyard. Police found his fingerprint on tape used to seal a cardboard box that held Gaddis’ body, according to court papers.

Lori Pond, Ashley's mother, said she didn't mind waiting for the trial to begin. "I want it done right," she said. "Do it right the first time and then you don't have to do it again."

Members of the girls' families attended the hearing, along with detectives involved in the investigation. No members of Weaver's family were present.

Other findings in the 13-page affidavit provide details provided by Weaver's oldest son of an alleged confession. Weaver told his son he killed 12-year-old Ashley Pond "because she deserved it," according to the court documents.

A medical examiner found a 3-inch by 3/4-inch hemorrhage on Ashley's head, but no broken bones or other signs of injury.

Investigators reported they think the plastic both girls were wrapped in, as well as a barrel in which Ashley was buried under a concrete slab, were taken from Weaver's Clackamas employer, Manufacturers Tool Service.

The Clackamas County district attorney's office filed the affidavit containing the new information Friday and used it to argue in the hearing Monday that Weaver should not be released pending trial. He remained held without bail in the Clackamas County Jail on charges of aggravated murder in the deaths of the two girls.

Weaver's attorney, Tim Lyons, declined to comment on the affidavit to reporters, as did the district attorney's office. Weaver has pleaded not guilty to the murders.

Weaver’s daughter, Mallori, did not visit the Clackamas County Jail for visiting hours Sunday night. A judge had cleared the way for her to visit her father in jail, despite concerns from prosecutors that Weaver may try to intimidate her.

(AP also contributed to this article.)