Rapoza supporters ask county for help

The Board of Supervisors repeatedly told Rapoza's supporters during a public comment period yesterday they have no authority over District Attorney Jim Fox or the San Mateo County Superior Court.

However, the small handful of people seeking to vindicate Rapoza pushed on with their insistence the board investigate actions by Fox and the sheriff's deputies who took the Foster City man's confession.

"The problem is when the DA doesn't report to anybody," said Patty Trayer.

She called Rapoza's incarceration "an embarrassment" and claimed it will come back to haunt the county.

John Trayer, Rapoza's former boss, asked the board to consider Rapoza's tragic circumstances.

"He loses the love of his life and he's thrown in jail and he's there for two years without a trial," Trayer said.

Board President Mark Church emphasized the best thing the Trayers can do is to hire Rapoza a private defense lawyer to replace the one appointed by the court shortly after his arrest.

"I think he needs an attorney," Church said.

Board members tried explaining the separation of government and courts to Trayer, his wife and three other Rapoza supporters. They, however, stayed mum when one speaker implied the county could be liable for not having a protective guard rail in place where the minivan driven by Rapoza plunged off a Moss Beach cliff into the Pacific Ocean 150 feet below.

Rapoza, 37, claims the crash was caused by faulty brakes adjusted to accommodate his pregnant wife. Prosecutors counter Rapoza was jealous and fearful he did not father his wife's fetus. Raye Rapoza died at the scene of the Oct. 6, 2002 crash. Tehani Rapoza, 4, was kept on life support for several days. During that period, Eddie Rapoza was hospitalized himself with major injuries and reportedly confessed his plans for a murder-suicide attempt to a sheriff's deputy.

Rapoza begins trial Jan. 10.