Still Missing CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #3

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Ava Kershner [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]15s
It’s going to trial. #KristinSmart

Dave Alley [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/DaveAlleyTV']@DaveAlleyTV [/URL]48s
BREAKING NEWS: Paul Flores will stand trial for the murder of Kristin Smart. Judge Craig van Rooyen rules there is enough probable cause indicating Flores committed the crime. Flores will now to face a jury trial sometime in the future.


Matt Fountain [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]1m
Judge rules there’s sufficient evidence to take the case to trial.


KSBY [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/KSBY']@KSBY [/URL]1m
The judge presiding over the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores ruled Wednesday morning that there is sufficient evidence to move the case forward to trial.


Judge to issue ruling in Kristin Smart case preliminary hearing
The judge presiding over the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores is expected to rule Wednesday morning whether there is enough evidence to move the case forward to trial.
ksby.com
 
The Tribune [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/SLOTribune']@SLOTribune [/URL]1m
A SLO Superior Court judge said it’s now up to a jury to decide “whether there’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”


Kristin Smart murder case against Paul and Ruben Flores will head to trial, judge rules

A SLO Superior Court judge said it’s now up to a jury to decide “whether there’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”
sanluisobispo.com

Ava Kershner [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]1m
Judge van Rooyen said that the last time Kristin was seen was with Paul and that she never returned to her dorm room. He said despite instances of Kristin leaving for days at a time, “That behavior does not explain a 25 year disappearance.”

Ava Kershner @avakershner 2m
Judge van Rooyen went through the evidence that brought him to this decision, including Paul having contact with Kristin at the Crandall Way party, that he was aware of her high level of intoxication, and that he encouraged Cheryl Anderson to leave, leaving just Kristin and Paul.
 
Matt Fountain [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]30s
Among the convincing evidence for him, CvR said that PF minimized his contact with KS the night of the party, and was aware of her intoxication. PF was the last person seen with her, and his dorm was near where she was last seen. Evidence showed she never returned to her room.


Ava Kershner [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]2m
The superior court arraignment date has been set for October 20 at 8:30am. It will be in person.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]3m
Ruben was ruled as an accessory to the crime. Judge van Rooyen said that the burial was in an area that Ruben had control over and that he believes Ruben has knowledge of what happened.

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 3m
Judge van Rooyen explained his ruling that he has a “strong suspicion” that Smart was murdered and buried under RF’s deck. Probable cause is a lesser standard of proof than guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which a jury must use at trial.


Matt Fountain [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]2m
“Whether there’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that’s for a jury to decide,” van Rooyen said.
 
Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 32s
Both PF and RF will be back in court in person for an arraignment Oct. 20.


KCBX News [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/KCBXnews']@KCBXnews [/URL]49s
San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen ruled this morning that Paul and Ruben Flores will stand trial in the Kristin Smart case. Arraignment is scheduled for October 20.

[URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/MattFountain1']Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 1m
Lastly, regarding RF, CvR said he had control of the property which again leads to “a strong suspicion it was Ms. Smart’s remains.”
Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 [/URL]3m
The digs at RF’s house revealed disturbed soil the size of a body, and staining in the soil revealed human blood. “Nothing links it definitively to Ms. Smart” due to lack of DNA, but it leads to a reasonable suspicion that KS was buried there, CvR said.
 
Alexa Bertola [URL='https://mobile.twitter.com/Alexa_Bertola']@Alexa_Bertola [/URL]27m
Paul and Ruben Flores have an arraignment set for Oct. 20 at 8:30 am.


Alexa Bertola @Alexa_Bertola 16m
The judge said that there was some dispute about when Paul Flores’ black eye appeared. PF admitted he lied about getting a black eye while playing basketball and then said he got it while fixing a car stereo. The judge said his lies showed his “consciousness of guilt.”


Alexa Bertola @Alexa_Bertola 22m
The judge said that Ruben Flores was “protective” of the deck at 710 White Court and he had knowledge what was under the deck.
 
The judge made a good ruling IMO to keep out any further sexual assault/rapes that the state wished to include in this trial, if the state thinks the motive was his intention to rape Kristin they have absolutely no evidence he did rape her, thus any other bad acts are not relevant,

the state obviously wants to show he is a sexual predator but they can't make this assertion in this case as their is no body thus no evidence of any rape or sexual assault,

it is easier to prove the murder due to the circumstantial evidence they have surrounding her disappearance, his proximity to her when she was last seen alive, his post disappearance behaviour (and his fathers) and the fact that she has never been seen alive since that night, they have evidence of murder but not evidence of sexual crimes even though the state will probably argue that was the motive.
 
Wonderful news that they're proceeding to a trial, but everyone must be patient. This is California, and it could take years before they actually get a jury impaneled and testimony begins. There will probably be an untold number of motions and hearings before justice is finally done. I hope I'm wrong.
 
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Santa Maria Times [URL='https://twitter.com/SantaMariaTimes']@SantaMariaTimes [/URL]9m
ICYMI: Through spokesman John Segale, Smart's family praised Judge Craig van Rooyen's decision to uphold charges of murder and accessory to murder after the fact against Paul Flores and Ruben Flores respectively, following a preliminary hearing that


Kristin Smart family on court ruling: 'We are now one step closer to justice'
A judge's ruling on Wednesday to uphold murder charges against a father and son accused in the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart moved the case "one step closer to justice,"
santamariatimes.com
 
Finally! I remember this on the news in 96 and have followed and happy for the arrests. I listened to the podcast Your Own Backyard about this case and very good. Hope justice is served quickly
 
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