Seal Beach salon shootings: Convicted killer cries in court

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- In a rare show of emotion, convicted killer Scott Dekraai cried while the daughter of one of the eight victims he killed at a Seal Beach salon spoke in court Friday.

Chelsea Huff, whose mother is also Dekraai's ex-wife, called for justice for the victims of the massacre.

The families expressed frustration about another delay in the case. The state attorney general's office announced Friday it's appealing a judge's decision to remove the Orange County district attorney from the case.

"I can't believe this is reality. To be honest, it feels like this whole thing is a dream," said Paul Caouette, the son of one of the victims.

Dekraai pleaded guilty last year to killing his ex-wife and seven others at a Seal Beach salon in 2011.

Last week, Judge Thomas Goethals ruled prosecutors violated Dekraai's right to a fair trial by using jailhouse informants, then having law enforcement officials lie about it under oath.

Some of the families blame the rare decision on District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

"I feel betrayed by Tony Rackauckas. I don't feel that an adequate job has been done," said Paul Wilson, the husband of one of the victims.

Rackauckas blamed the system of justice for being too slow, sympathizing with families and defending his office.

"We're doing what we can to try to try to work through this system and bring this matter to a final conclusion," Rackauckas said.

An appellate court will now determine whether the district attorney or the attorney general will handle the case.

The death penalty remains on the table.

While there are mixed opinions from the victims' families on the potential sentence, they're unanimous in wanting this case to end soon.

"For the families, for myself, to get this over with, we've sat long enough. It's draining. I'm drained," Caouette said.

Unless the appellate court rules sooner, the penalty phase of this trial is scheduled to begin July 24.