A forensic expert testified in court that soil samples taken from the scene of a crime tested positive for human blood. The defense argued that the level of DNA found was not significant enough to be considered human blood, but the prosecution insisted that it was more than sufficient to establish a connection between the soil and a human being.
A forensic expert testified that soil samples tested positive for human blood.
The ‘Your Own Backyard Podcast’ will not testify in the Kristin Smart case, according to a judge.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Judge van Rooyen decided on Wednesday morning, Sept. 9, that Chris Lambert is a writer and a musician., the host of the ‘Your Own Backyard’ podcast, would not testify at the preliminary hearing for Paul (44) and Ruben (80) Flores.
Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was abducted and murdered in 1996, and her father and son have been charged with her murder. Ruben has been charged with accessory after the fact, while Paul has been charged with her murder.
In April, both guys were apprehended. Ruben has been released on bond, while Paul is still being held without bail at the San Luis Obispo County prison.
We’re going to get through this together, Atascadero
Kristin’s body was never discovered, although she was officially pronounced dead in 2002.
Diana Palacios is Chris Lambert’s lawyer. POOL: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 (Santa Maria Times/Dave Minsky) data-medium-file=” data-medium-file=” data-medium-file=” data- Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2-scaled.jpg?fit=300% 2C199&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2-scaled.jpg?fit=300% 2C199&ssl=1 data-large-file=” data-large-file=” data-large-file=” data-large Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 ” width=”1024″ height=”681″ src=”” width=”1024″ height=”681″ src=”” width=”1024″ height=” Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 https://i2.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 class=”wp-image-35876″ alt=”” alt=”” alt=”” alt=”” alt=”” alt=”” alt=”” alt=” data-recalc-dims=”jetpack-lazy-image” “1” data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=”https://i2.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-2.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1″ data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy- Diana Palacios, an attorney for Chris Lambert. POOL: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 (Santa Maria Times/Dave Minsky)
Chris Lambert
Lambert had been summoned by the defense to testify and submit papers relevant to Kristin’s case earlier in the hearing. Lambert then responded to the subpoena with an objection.
A request to quash a subpoena that would have forced Lambert to disclose records relevant to Kristin Smart’s case was approved by the court.
Lambert’s 12-part podcast delves into Kristin’s disappearance and includes interviews with a variety of individuals, some of whom Lambert did not name, as well as possible evidence.
Robert Sanger, Paul’s defense attorney, accused Lambert of swaying at least two witnesses who had previously testified in the case. Lambert’s claim to California’s shield legislation, which prevents journalists from being compelled to testify about their sources, can’t be used to override his client’s right to a fair trial, he said.
Lambert was represented by Diana Palacios, the host of the podcast “Your Own Backyard.”
Christopher Peuvrelle, Deputy District Attorney for San Luis Obispo County. POOL: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 (Santa Maria Times/Dave Minsky) data-medium-file=” data-medium-file=” data-medium-file=” data- Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1-scaled.jpg?fit=300% 2C196&ssl=1 https://i2.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1-scaled.jpg?fit=300% 2C196&ssl=1 data-large-file=” data-large-file=” data-large-file=” data-large Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1024 percent 2C667&ssl=1 https://i2.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1024 percent 2C667&ssl=1 ” width=”1024″ height=”667″ src=”” width=”1024″ height=”667″ src=”” width=”1024″ height=” Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C667&ssl=1 https://i1.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C667&ssl=1 ” alternative= data-full-url=”” data-id=”35875″ data-id=”35875″ data-id=”35875″ data-id=”35875″ data https://atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1-scaled.jpg data-link=””> data-recalc-dims=https://atascaderonews.com/?attachment id=35875″ class=”wp-image-35875 jetpack-lazy-image” data-recalc-dims=https://atascaderonews.com/?attachment id=35875″ data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=”1″ data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=”1″ data-lazy- data-lazy Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C667&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1″ /> https://i1.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-1.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C667&is Christopher Peuvrelle, Deputy District Attorney for San Luis Obispo County. POOL DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 (Santa Maria Times/Dave Minsky)
POOL: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 (Dave Minsky/Santa Maria Times) Paul Flores data-medium-file=” data-medium-file=” data-medium-file=” data- Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5-scaled.jpg?fit=300% 2C199&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5-scaled.jpg?fit=300% 2C199&ssl=1 data-large-file=” data-large-file=” data-large-file=” data-large Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5-scaled.jpg?fit=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5-scaled.jpg?fit=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 ” width=”1024″ height=”681″ src=”” width=”1024″ height=”681″ src=”” width=”1024″ height=” Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681&ssl=1 data-full-url=”” alt=”” data-id=”35879″ data-full-url=”” alt=”” data-id=”35879″ data-full-url=” https://atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5-scaled.jpg data-link=””> https://atascaderonews.com/?attachment id=35879 data-recalc-dims= data-recalc-dims= data-recalc-dims= data-recalc-dims= data-recalc-dims= data-recalc-dims= data-recalc-dim data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=”1″ data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=”1″ data-lazy- data-lazy Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1″ /> https://i0.wp.com/atascaderonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Day-19-Flores-preliminary-hearing-morning-5.jpg?resize=1024 percent 2C681& Flores, Paul. POOL: SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 (Santa Maria Times/Dave Minsky)
Angela Butler is a well-known actress.
Following Lambert’s decision, Angela Butler testified that human blood was discovered in soil samples collected from Ruben’s White Court property.
She worked as a senior analyst and lab supervisor at a serological lab in Richmond, California, where she examined the soil samples.
Butler testified that five soil samples collected during the March search were positive for human blood, and eight more soil samples were positive for human blood during an April search.
Butler claims that two tests were performed: an orthotolidine test, which is a presumptive test, and a Seratec HemDirect test, which is a confirming test that detects hemoglobin in human blood.
She said that no DNA could be found in any of the samples.
She said that there was either not enough to detect or that there was, but it had deteriorated.
Butler also said that the samples were wet and that bacteria were present in the soil, which may explain why no human DNA was found.
She also swabbed a piece of plywood from a trailer on Ruben’s property for DNA, but claimed she couldn’t detect Kristin Smart, Paul, or Ruben Flores’ DNA.
Butler was asked whether she was 100% confident there was human blood in the tests during cross-examination, and she replied yes.
Butler stated several tiny clumps of material in one of the samples were dark-colored orange, brown, and somewhat reddish threads, which she returned to lead Detective Clint Cole.
Butler also claimed that she was unable to extract DNA from the samples, despite the fact that her lab is presently analyzing mitochondrial DNA testing, which reveal a link to the mother.
Cudworth, Robert
During the afternoon part of the hearing, two additional individuals testified.
In 1996, SLO Police Patrol Lieutenant Robert Cudworth was assigned to Cal Poly police. He testified that on May 28, 1996, he questioned Paul Flores about what he said occurred the night Kristin vanished.
Cudworth said that Paul did not have a black eye at the time of the interview, but that he did have scratches on his knee and what looked to be a black eye during a subsequent interview on May 31, 1996.
JT Camp
JT Camp, a SLO County District Attorney’s Office investigator, was also called to testify. He discussed some of the things discovered in Kristin’s dorm room, including her credit card, Social Security card, and checkbook, all of which had a Stockton address on them.
According to Camp, the materials were delivered to the DA’s office by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office in August of this year.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Thursday. There will be a pause till September 20th after that.
Thursday, September 9th
The sixth week of the preliminary hearing for Paul (44) and Ruben (80) Flores ended on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Cross-examination of San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Specialist Shelby Liddell, who testified that she was engaged in collecting soil samples and taking photographs at Ruben’s Arroyo Grande house in March and April this year, started in court on Thursday.
On Sept. 1, Liddell entered the stand for the first time and was interrogated about two dig sites discovered during the March and April searches of Ruben’s property.
According to evidence, Liddell collaborated with certified professional archaeologist Cindy Arrington on the locations where soil stain tests purportedly revealed the presence of human decomposition.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was utilized at 11 places in Ruben’s property, according to Liddell. Four of the locations where anomalies were discovered were explored.
Prior to the use of GPR, cadaver dog searches on the same day in March revealed differences in behavior but no alarms on the same dig locations.
Staining in the soil was found approximately two and a half feet deep at one of the dig locations, according to Liddell.
She testified that anything might have been buried above the staining site to cause it, and that the stains did not seem to have been disturbed.
They returned in April to gather additional samples after a sample from the March excavation tested positive for blood, according to Liddell.
She also said that once the decking was removed, a second region above the initial excavation that was harder to reach but not impossible was dug.
Both locations had soil samples collected.
Robert Sanger, Paul’s lawyer, questioned if the deck had been removed previously, and Liddell replied no.
She claimed there were many stains under the deck, and their form and size varied as the digging progressed.
Sanger pointed out a sewage clean-up valve in the center of the dig area beneath the deck, a dryer vent to the right of that, and another vent for the crawl space under the home adjacent to that.
On Thursday, Liddell was the only witness who took the stand.
Three search warrants from March and April are being challenged by the defense in a motion to suppress, quash, and traverse. According to Sanger, his client has a reasonable expectation of privacy in the locations examined.
The defense looked through their potential witnesses as well. Various detectives will testify, among others, but convicted killer Scott Peterson will not be permitted to speak, according to the court.
According to the court, there was no proof of any link between Smart and Peterson, nor that he was at the same party on Crandall Way as Paul and Kristin shortly before she vanished.
Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was abducted and murdered in 1996, and her father and son have been charged with her murder. Ruben has been charged with accessory after the fact, while Paul has been charged with her murder.
In April, both guys were apprehended. Ruben has been released on bond, while Paul is still being held without bail at the San Luis Obispo County prison.
Kristin’s body was never discovered, although she was officially pronounced dead in 2002.
The hearing has been postponed until September 20 at 9 a.m. in the SLO County Superior Court.
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