Tony Protopappas (OC Register) |
SANTA ANA -- A former Costa Mesa dentist convicted of killing three patients with drug overdoses could soon be freed from prison.
A ruling Tuesday by the 4th District Court of Appeal said 63-year-old Tony Protopappas must be released from prison unless there is new evidence that he's a threat to society.
Protopappas has served more than 25 years of a 15-year-to-life sentence.
In late 1982 and early 1983, Protopappas killed Kim Andreassen, 23, Cathryn Jones, 31, and Patricia Craven, 13, by giving them fatal doses of a general anesthetic. He was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder in 1984.
In the first years after the deaths, Protopappas had shifted responsibility to others. Prosecutors had argued he "lacked insight" into his crimes and continued to be a danger to society.
His attorney, Richard Pfeiffer, told the court Protopappas has accepted responsibility, is remorseful for the deaths and should be set free.
At a 2008 parole board hearing, Protopappas said he had been arrogant and was afraid to admit that he didn't know what he was doing when he gave the patients too much anesthesia.
A ruling Tuesday by the 4th District Court of Appeal said 63-year-old Tony Protopappas must be released from prison unless there is new evidence that he's a threat to society.
Protopappas has served more than 25 years of a 15-year-to-life sentence.
In late 1982 and early 1983, Protopappas killed Kim Andreassen, 23, Cathryn Jones, 31, and Patricia Craven, 13, by giving them fatal doses of a general anesthetic. He was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder in 1984.
In the first years after the deaths, Protopappas had shifted responsibility to others. Prosecutors had argued he "lacked insight" into his crimes and continued to be a danger to society.
His attorney, Richard Pfeiffer, told the court Protopappas has accepted responsibility, is remorseful for the deaths and should be set free.
At a 2008 parole board hearing, Protopappas said he had been arrogant and was afraid to admit that he didn't know what he was doing when he gave the patients too much anesthesia.
