Preschool murder trial to begin today

Alex Coolman

The trial of Steven Allen Abrams, the man accused of murdering two

children at a Costa Mesa day care center last year, is scheduled to begin

at 9 a.m. today in Superior Court in Santa Ana.

Abrams is charged with running down two children and injuring several

others when he drove his 1967 Cadillac onto the playground of the

Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center on May 3, 1999. He faces two

counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

Abrams, 40, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

The circumstances surrounding Abrams’ actions, which took the lives of

Sierra Soto, 4, and Brandon Wiener, 3, have been the subject of intense

speculation as the trial has drawn near.

Police have said they believe Abrams acted deliberately, and that he

drove onto the playground specifically because he hoped to kill the

children playing there.

Police attribute his actions to frustration over a failed romance with

a neighbor.

Recent reports have also focused on Abrams’ mental condition at the

time of the event. Psychiatric records indicate that Abrams had a history

of erratic and possibly delusional behavior.

For the Costa Mesa community, the Abrams case has been divisive.

Lawsuits filed by the parents of the victims have drawn flak from some

critics, while others have charged that safety precautions at the

learning center were inadequate.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.