Still Missing CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2

[Emi]

https://www.ksby.com/news/kristin-s...smart-murder-case-is-not-being-broadcast-live

That's because the judge has put several restrictions on media coverage of the hearing.

Per the judge's orders, we are only allowed to record video, no live broadcasting is allowed, and we can not record any audio of the hearing.

He explained his reasoning for not allowing audio recordings, saying that thousands of people had already logged in to watch the previous Zoom hearings in the case, and he worried it could taint the potential jury pool if the case were to go to trial and also deter witnesses from testifying or cause other witnesses to alter their testimony.

Paul and Ruben Flores are charged in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Paul is charged with murder, while his father, Ruben, is accused of being an accessory to the crime.

Their preliminary hearing is expected to last three weeks. KSBY News will provide daily updates online and in all of our newscasts. The hearing will be paused on Fridays.

 

[Emi]

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 20m
“We talked for a few minutes and I said, ‘Stay away from that guy,’” one witness testified she told missing Cal Poly student #KristinSmart shortly before her disappearance. Last update of the day at @SLOTribune


Kristin Smart case: Cal Poly student’s mother recalls last contact with missing daughter
“She always felt like a gift to our family,” Denise Smart said during a preliminary hearing in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.
sanluisobispo.com

 

[Emi]

Megan Healy [URL='https://twitter.com/MeganHealyTV']@MeganHealyTV[/URL]
Two partygoers from the night #KristinSmart disappeared also testified. CP student Eric Grasso says Paul Flores was "standoffish" but didn't talk to him directly that night. He read his original statement to refresh his memory, but he didn't seem to recall much
7:54 PM · Aug 2, 2021·Twitter Web App

Megan Healy [URL='https://twitter.com/MeganHealyTV']@MeganHealyTV [/URL]32m
Replying to @MeganHealyTV
Cuesta student Kendra Koed said she kissed Paul Flores after asking for gum, but pushed away after he tried making another advance outside. Koed added she was concerned for Kristin after seeing her intoxicated & unable to take care of herself. She told KS to stay away from Paul.


Megan Healy [URL='https://twitter.com/MeganHealyTV']@MeganHealyTV [/URL]31m
Koed added that later in the night, she saw Kristin lying in a nearby driveway and offered to walk her home, but Kristin said she was waiting for someone. It's unclear who that 'someone' may have been. Day 1 ended with cross-examination of this witness.

 

[Emi]

Megan Healy [URL='https://twitter.com/MeganHealyTV']@MeganHealyTV [/URL]56m
FULL RECAP HERE: Day 1 of Flores Preliminary Hearing


[URL='https://t.co/d8tk05NSZH?amp=1']Denise Smart called as first witness in preliminary hearing of Paul, Ruben Flores
After multiple delays, the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores got underway Monday morning in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.
ksby.com[/URL]

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, August 3rd:
*Preliminary Hearing for both (Day 2) (@ 8:30am PT) - CA - Kristin Denise Smart (19) (missing May 25, 1996 while walking back to her dorm from a off campus frat party at Cal Poly, reported missing on May 26, 1996, San Luis Obispo, still missing) – *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty. $250K bond. Bond was lower to $50K. Has posted bond (4/22/21), out of jail.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 to 7/14/21 reference post #669 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2
7/28/21: Detectives searched Huasna Road today in Arroyo Grande through trees, farmland & trees, but so far, no remains were found. Preliminary hearings start on 8/2/21 for both & will probably last about 12 days.
8/2/21 Monday, Day 1 of Preliminary hearing: SLO Prosecutor Chris Peuvrelle, Paul's attorney Bob Sanger & Ruben's attorney Harold Mesick. The court also heard a motion to quash on behalf of Susan Flores, Paul’s mother. Susan invoked the 5th amendment saying she planned to use it if called as a witness. She will no longer take the stand.
State witnesses: Denise Smart, Kristin's mother. Stan Smart, Kristin's father. Cal Poly student Eric Grasso. Cuesta student Kendra Koed. Preliminary hearing continues on 8/3/21.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“She always felt like a gift to our family,” Denise Smart said of her daughter. “She was so energetic and had a great smile. She was the best hugger.”

The hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores is expected to last at least 12 full days.

Paul Flores stared mostly straight ahead during the first day of proceedings, rarely looking in the direction of his father or the news media sitting in a corner of the courtroom.

The hearing, originally scheduled for early July, had been postponed several times as the defense continued to gather alleged evidence in the case from the prosecution.

The hearing is not being live-streamed and media in attendance are under strict rules prohibiting the use of electronic devices in the courtroom.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen will rule whether prosecutors established probable cause — a lesser standard of proof than guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — to proceed the case toward trial.
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article253188473.html

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelle, for the prosecution, first asked Denise questions surrounding Kristin’s relationship with her family, her life at school and her habits — appearing to imply that purposely leaving school and ending communication with her family was not likely for Kristin.

Peuvrelle asked Denise about significant events in the family since Kristin’s disappearance. Denise said Kristin’s siblings, Matthew and Lindsey, have graduated from high school and college, gotten married and have had children — all of which Kristin would never have missed.

While Kristin was at Cal Poly, Denise said they talked on the phone every Sunday, sometimes more throughout the week.

Denise talked to Kristin the week before she went missing. During the call, Kristin was upset because a professor couldn’t find her Scantron test, therefore giving her an ‘incomplete.’

During a phone call the following week — the day before the disappearance — Denise said Kristin was “upbeat.”

“I have good news, I’ll call you on Sunday,” Kristin said, according to Denise. Kristin never called.
Kristin Smart’s parents, witnesses testify first day of preliminary hearing for Flores murder charges - Mustang News

 

[Emi]

Cameryn Oakes [URL='https://twitter.com/OakesCameryn']@OakesCameryn [/URL]22s
Before I head into the courtroom for day 2 of the Flores preliminary hearing, here’s a recap of what happened yesterday #KristinSmart :

KSBY [URL='https://twitter.com/KSBY']@KSBY [/URL]13m
Paul, Ruben Flores return for day 2 of preliminary hearing in Kristin Smart case. #KristinSmart


[URL='https://t.co/SSeZjM6is1?amp=1']Paul, Ruben Flores return for day 2 of preliminary hearing in Kristin Smart case
Paul, Ruben Flores return for day 2 of preliminary hearing in Kristin Smart case
ksby.com[/URL]

 

[Emi]

Elizabeth Roberts [URL='https://twitter.com/eroberts209']@eroberts209 [/URL]47m
Paul and Ruben Flores appeared in court for the preliminary hearing for the murder of Kristin Smart. Witnesses, including Smart's parents, took the stand.@OakesCameryn reports from the courtroom.



First time witnesses, evidence brought to court in first day of Flores' preliminary hearing
Paul and Ruben Flores appeared in court for the preliminary hearing for the murder of Kristin Smart. Witnesses, including Smart's parents, took the stand.
recordnet.com

 

[Emi]

Cameryn Oakes [URL='https://twitter.com/OakesCameryn']@OakesCameryn [/URL]1m
Replying to @OakesCameryn
A subpoena for Susan Flores to testify was quashed by the court. In a motion presented by her attorney, it was said that she would invoke her 5th amendment right to not self-incriminate, thus not providing any statements while testifying. This was confirmed by Susan.

Cameryn Oakes [URL='https://twitter.com/OakesCameryn']@OakesCameryn [/URL]42s
The reasoning given by her attorney was that her testimony would be misconstrued and misquoted by the media and on social media.

 

[Emi]

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 9m
Day 2 of the Paul & Ruben Flores prelim should begin soon. I’ll try to tweet updates more frequently today. #kristinsmart

 

[Gardenista]

Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 1m
Replying to @OakesCameryn
A subpoena for Susan Flores to testify was quashed by the court. In a motion presented by her attorney, it was said that she would invoke her 5th amendment right to not self-incriminate, thus not providing any statements while testifying. This was confirmed by Susan.

Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 42s
The reasoning given by her attorney was that her testimony would be misconstrued and misquoted by the media and on social media.

 

[Emi]

Lauren [URL='https://twitter.com/LaurenWalike']@LaurenWalike [/URL]46m
Back in court for the second day of the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores. Check
@KCBXnews for an update later today #KristinSmart

 

[Emi]

Day 2 — YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Notes from Chris Lambert

 

[Emi]

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]2m
First witness today was a former dorm neighbor of #kristinsmart who recalled Pail Flores being ‘weird and creepy” and a “lurker” who would be sitting alone in the dorm common area at 1am. even though he didn’t live there

 

[Emi]

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1[/URL]
Replying to @MattFountain1
“Everyone knew Paul was creepy. A lot of women felt uncomfortable around him,” Steven Fleming testified
10:36 AM · Aug 3, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

[Insightful1]

Here are screenshots of a couple of interesting items I found while reading the unsealed documents in the Kristin Smart case. (Tricia gave me permission to post them. ) The first SS is one excerpt. The next 2 photos go together. Sorry for the size hope everyone can read it. If not let me know I can type it out.

 

[Emi]

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]11m
Flemming said he felt like he failed #KristinSmart. “You wish (you) could push the rewind button. … Responsible? I don’t feel responsible. I just miss her,” he said.
We’re in recess till 1:30

 

[Emi]

Megan Healy [URL='https://twitter.com/MeganHealyTV']@MeganHealyTV [/URL]1m
Day 2 of the Flores Prelim: Steven Fleming is 5th witness to testify. He used to live in Muir Hall (same dorm as Kristin) and had classes and studied together. Prosecutor submitted photos into evidence showing outside/inside Muir Hall dorm. Flemming circled his room window

 

[Emi]

Megan Healy @MeganHealyTV 12m
Replying to @MeganHealyTV
Fleming remembers seeing Paul in the Muir Hall dorm on several occasions, calling him "creepy and weird" for being there alone at 1 a.m...but during cross-examination, it became clear that memories from 25 years ago are fading.

Megan Healy [URL='https://twitter.com/MeganHealyTV']@MeganHealyTV [/URL]12m
Replying to @MeganHealyTV
Fleming had trouble remembering what he said to the FBI during a 1999 interview when he saw Kristin looking uneasy when paul was in her dorm room. Later he says he initially reported he wasn't sure it was Paul or if it was Kristin's room