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MICHAEL TURNEY TRIAL: Day 1 Opening statements are set to begin in the Michael Turney trial in just a few minutes. A little recap, Michael is facing a second degree murder charge in the cold case disappearance of his step-daughter Alissa Turney. She went missing in 2001. At the time Michael reported Alissa as a runaway, but after a bizarre turn of events he was arrested in 2020.
In 2008 after hundreds of interviews, there was a search of his home and a large amount of pipe bombs were found. Michael served 10 years in prison for those crimes. During that time Alissa’s sister (Sarah) started a podcast/TikTok sharing her dad’s suspicious behavior (including filming Alissa at work and in the pool). Again, Michael was arrested in 2020. For a full recap watch this story:
https://abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/arrest-made-in-2001-cold-case-disappearance-of-alissa-turney
Turney’s team tried to block his face from being shown. That was denied by the judge. How today will go… - Opening statement will happen today - Lunch will happen in the 11 an hour - Court will end at 3:45 pm today - Sounds like we may get at least one witness called today
Turney is in the court room looking very different from his IA in 2020. He’s in a wheelchair and using a headset to hear. He’s now 75 years old. As the prosecution team was setting up, we did see home videos would be used at some point in their opening statement.
Judge says trial is expected to last through July 20th. That would be exactly 2 weeks.
Opening statements starting now.
State is setting expectations for jurors that’s how they are presenting this. They are taking them through May 17, 2001 (the day Alissa went missing). The prosecutor also says there is no crime scene, no DNA or blood evidence, but instead is describing the bizarre behavior that has been alleged before. That behavior includes Michael recording phone calls and posting cameras throughout the family’s home. The day Alissa went missing there’s no recording the prosecutor says.
They are showing an
@ABCNewsLive interview with Michael from I believe 2009. They are taking the jury also through some of the videos that Michael Turney recorded with cameras set up throughout the home.
Judge will look at previous rulings and have a decision after lunch. They are now talking about another witness the state wants to use.
Now Michael Turney’s team is ask for a mistrial due to molest being brought up in court saying this was ruled on previously.
Judge will look at previous rulings and have a decision after lunch. They are now talking about another witness the state wants to use.
www.nbcnews.com
