CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
February 10, 1990 | JOHN JOHNSON, TIMES STAFF WRITER
In what is believed to be the first murder prosecution in American history for oleander poisoning, authorities filed charges Friday against a former Pasadena funeral home worker accused of using the lethal plant's leaves to poison a rival mortician. David Wayne Sconce, 33, was charged with poisoning Timothy R. Waters, 24, a rival Burbank mortician, in 1985. The motive, according to Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Deputy Dist. Atty.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
February 27, 1990
A Pasadena funeral home worker charged with fatally poisoning a rival mortician with oleander leaves in 1985 was denied his choice of defense counsel Monday by a Municipal Court judge. David Wayne Sconce, 33, requested that Roger Jon Diamond, of Santa Monica, serve as his court-appointed attorney. But Ventura Municipal Court Judge Barry B. Klopfer appointed a public defender instead. Diamond said he will appeal the decision before Sconce's arraignment on March 13.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
October 11, 1990 | From Times staff and Wire reports
A Ventura County Municipal Court judge on Wednesday ordered a murder trial for David Wayne Sconce, a former Pasadena undertaker accused of poisoning rival mortician Timothy Waters, 24, with oleander in 1985. Waters died at his parents' Camarillo home. Prosecutors allege that Sconce, now 34, spiked Waters' drink with oleander at an unnamed restaurant, but they admitted Wednesday they have no proof the men ever saw each other around that time.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
May 11, 1991
A former Pasadena mortician cleared of charges that he murdered a business rival is asking the state Supreme Court to throw out an unrelated charge involving an alleged conspiracy to kill another rival. Attorneys for David Wayne Sconce, 35, contend there is no proof there was a conspiracy to kill Elie Estephan, who was never harmed. If there was a plan against Estephan, Sconce withdrew from it, they said.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
December 1, 1990 | MACK REED
Citing procedural problems, a Ventura County Superior Court judge tentatively decided Friday to dismiss the murder case against David Wayne Sconce, a Pasadena crematory operator who was accused of poisoning a rival mortician with oleander. However, prosecutors have said that if the case is dismissed, they will refile the charges. Judge Frederick A.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
March 14, 1990 | DARYL KELLEY
The arraignment of a Pasadena funeral home worker charged with fatally poisoning a rival mortician with oleander leaves was delayed Tuesday and an April 6 hearing set on his request to be represented by a private attorney rather than the county public defender. David Wayne Sconce, 33, originally asked that Roger John Diamond, of Santa Monica, serve as his court-appointed lawyer. He argued that Diamond, who represented him in a related criminal proceeding last year, is familiar with the case.