The Oceanside man accused of murdering a prominent Santa Barbara doctor and his family last week in their home near Santa Barbara appeared in court for the first time Tuesday afternoon for arraignment.
Three counts of first-degree murder were filed earlier in the day against Pierre F. Haobsh, 26, along with special allegations that the offenses were willful, premeditated, and deliberate; committed by means of lying in wait; and committed for financial gain, according to a statement from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office.
The complaint against Haobsh also includes the special allegations of multiple homicides and use of a firearm in connection with the crimes.
Haobsh is accused of killing Dr. Weidong “Henry” Han, 57; his wife, Huijie “Jennie” Yu, 29; and their 5-year-old daughter, Emily Han, in their home at 4640 Greenhill Way, between Goleta and Santa Barbara, “on or about March 23.”
Autopsies showed the three victims died of gunshot wounds to the head, according to the Coroner’s Office.
If found guilty on all counts, Haobsh could face the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole — a decision the District Attorney’s Office said it will make in the near future, probably at the time of Haobsh’s preliminary hearing.
Deputy district attorneys Hilary Dozer and Ben Ladinig are prosecuting Haobsh, who appeared in court represented by deputy public defenders Christine Voss and Mindi Boulet.
Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Raimundo Montes De Oca presided over the arraignment hearing, which was postponed to April 12.
Judge James Herman issued an order over the weekend allowing public defender access to Haobsh, and the order was opposed by Dozer, Ladinig and Deputy County Counsel Michelle Montez.
Dozer said the order should be void since Haobsh had not asked for an attorney and had not been arraigned at the time.
Montes De Oca asked all sides to file briefs before a hearing is held on the matter.
Haobsh was a business associate of Han, and was arrested early Friday morning in San Diego County.
Authorities say the suspect was recently involved in a business transaction with Han, who, along with his wife, operated the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic at 3886 State Street.
At a press conference Friday, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown did not outline what led investigators to zero in on Haobsh as a suspect, who did not have a criminal record.
Early Monday morning, officers in a U-Haul truck were seen leaving the property. The Sheriff’s Department declined to release any information regarding it.
The Associated Press reported that Haobsh is the brother of Nadine Jolie Courtney, a fashion and beauty blogger, who confirmed the relationship in an email to the AP over the weekend. Courtney condemned the killings and expressed shock and disbelief.
— Noozhawk staff writer Sam Goldman can be reached at sgoldman@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
