Crime & Safety

Convicted Child Sex Abuser Granted New Trial

Dhirendra Lal was found guilty in 2010 but he will have a new trial starting in March.

Although Dhirendra Lal, a South San Francisco man, was convicted of six felony counts and two misdemeanor counts of child sexual abuse in 2010, he will get another crack at freedom next month.

Lal was charged with 30 counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14 and 26 counts of oral copulation on a child in 2007 after his 10-year-old daughter told a teacher that Lal had continuously sexually abused her and her 4-year-old sister.

According to San Mateo County District Attorney's Office notes, the daughter said she had not previously reported the molestation because Lal threatened to kill the entire family if she did. 

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lal has maintained that his daughters are lying about the abuse since his arrest. 

He was back in court Monday for a hearing to request a new trial. That motion was granted after DNA expert Norah Rudin, James Crawford-Jakubiak, and Christine Everstine testified.

Find out what's happening in South San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The court found that the defense attorney at trial was not competent and deprived the defendant of a potentially meritorious defense," the DA's Office reported through media notes.

Lal's new trial will begin March 19 at 8:45 a.m.


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