Lawyer is "grabbing for straws'

Selena's father assails motion

Associated Press

Copyright 1995 Houston Chronicle

CORPUS CHRISTI -- The lawyer for the woman accused of killing Selena is merely "grabbing for straws" with a court motion seeking his business records, said the father of the Tejano music queen.

Defense attorney Doug Tinker defended his request as part of the "discovery," or fact-gathering, necessary to defend Yolanda Saldivar, who is charged with shooting Selena on March 31.

Tinker filed a motion this week requesting "any and all investigations and/or audits by any taxing agencies" concerning Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., or his businesses.

Those agencies included the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration and the Texas Employment Commission, Tinker said.

"He's trying to grab on to whatever he can and he's trying to blow it up," said Quintanilla, who managed his daughter's growing music, endorsement and retail empire.

"He is grabbing for straws," Quintanilla said in the Corpus Christi-Caller Times. "I don't know what he's up to."

Tinker said he requested the records because he understands that Corpus Christi police and the Nueces County District Attorney's office are investigating embezzlement allegations against his client.

Shortly after the shooting, Quintanilla told investigators that Saldivar, the founder of the Selena Fan Club, had embezzled more than $30,000 from the 23-year-old singer.

District Attorney Carlos Valdez declined to comment about Tinker's request.