by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Accused murderer Keith Garrido requested to get out of jail to attend his grandmother's funeral next week. The request was made this morning by Garrido's attorney, Stephen Hattori, who said his client had been raised by the grandmother.

The defense asked that Garrido be allowed to attend the funeral and the burial under lock and key and direct supervision of Department of Corrections officers. Chief deputy AG Phil Tydingco vehemently opposed the request, pointing out that the defendant is currently being held accused of murdering a woman in Barrigada and then escaping from DepCor custody and invading a Chalan Pago home and attempting to murder another woman. Tydingco says he is concerned about the public's safety and stressed that the victims' family members in both cases opposed his release.

Superior Court Judge Anita Sukola denied the request, saying Garrido is a danger to the community and she is extremely concerned about the risk to the public, even while the defendant is under supervision.