Gazlay’s trial is postponed

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 9 a.m.

A judge on Thursday postponed the second trial for alleged 311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay, who is charged with burning a teenager with a hot butter knife.

Gazlay, 19, was scheduled to stand trial next week on a single count of battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm related to the burning of 18-year-old Jason Cammilleri at a July house party.

But District Judge Valorie Vega postponed the trial after Gazlay's new attorney, Louis Palazzo, said he needed more time to prepare. Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent did not object to the delay.

Palazzo, who recently replaced James "Bucky" Buchanan, said he needed to interview additional witnesses. He said he also was waiting for Buchanan to hand over the case file.

Vega is expected to set a new trial date during a status check hearing on April 13.

Gazlay is awaiting a Feb. 17 sentencing on battery charges stemming from an attack on a young man with a crowbar last summer. In a separate case, he and eight other teens face 12 felony charges, including attempted murder, in a rock attack on a 17-year-old boy.

Buchanan, who represented the teen in all three cases, stepped down from the cases two weeks ago, saying Gazlay's family could no longer afford his services. He denied the lawyer switch had anything to do with Gazlay's recent conviction.