Deceased/Not Found CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 5/25/1996 *Guilty* #4

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582480593048084480

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582479555385704448

 

[Seattle1]

I think trying father and son simultaneously may have had a negative effect on Ruben's case when jurors could see by the evidence that Paul was responsible for the murder and felt sympathy for Ruben. Perhaps they believed his mother was the accessory and not Ruben. JMO

 

[tezi]

Emi, I just want to let you know how amazing I think you are! You've been tirelessly posting about this case & trial. You're appreciated more than you know! Thank you!

I second that!!!!!

 

[katydid23]

I wanted Ruben to be found guilty as well, but at least they got the cold blooded killer locked down.

I wonder why the jury thought Ruben was not an accessory?

Did they feel sorry for him?

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582481249502756864

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582480222816899072

 

[tezi]

I think trying father and son simultaneously may have had a negative effect on Ruben's case when jurors could see by the evidence that Paul was responsible for the murder and felt sympathy for Ruben. Perhaps they believed his mother was the accessory and not Ruben. JMO

BBM: I agree, time to charge Mama Flores!

 

[Trouble1321075]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed I am late to following this.

I have read that they used ground penetrating radar to break the case open. Do the police explain what lead them to do that and looking in the spot that they did?

It's wild to me that they would of kept the body hidden there for all these years.

 

[Seattle1]

Update, 2 p.m.: Ruben Flores was found not guilty by a separate jury of helping his son conceal the murder of Kristin Smart. A jury acquitted Ruben Flores of charges of accessory to murder after the fact. He was present for the reading of the verdict. Jurors in the Ruben Flores trial were thanked and can now discuss the case.

“You are fulfilling an extremely important role in our judicial system,” O’Keefe told the jurors. “Please accept our thanks for your time and our effort.”

Ruben Flores has been released from electronic monitoring and is discharged.

Update, 1:57 p.m.: Prosecutor Christopher Peuvrelle asked O’Keefe if she intended to lift the gag order preventing parties to the trial from speaking about the case, but the judge said she was considering leaving it in place until sentencing.

O’Keefe added she would review the gag order during the recess while court awaits the reading of Ruben Flores’ verdict.

Read more at: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article267465167.html#storylink=cpy

 

[momsof3]

Yeah, at least they nailed the big fish. Ruben was looking at a very short sentence anyway, and now he's lost his son to prison for the rest of his life.

Silver linings.

Agreed. Most importantly the person who continued to terrorize women, as evidenced by the women who came forward AND the dozens of video files on Paul’s computer of him with unconscious or semi-conscious women, will be going away for good. I can live with that.

ETA - now I wonder the juror who was excused from Ruben’s jury because he was having difficulty with judging another person was foreshadowing how the jury as a whole was feeling.

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582483804832165888

 

[Seattle1]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed I am late to following this.

I have read that they used ground penetrating radar to break the case open. Do the police explain what lead them housing that and looking in the spot that they did?

It's wild to me that they would of kept the body hidden there for all these years.

Much of the evidence was sealed and I don't recall ground radar credited for "breaking this case."

IMO, it was the blood staining on the soil they dug up under the deck and the trailer next to the property that tested positive for human blood that led to the murder charges. MOO

Forensic specialist testifies presence of blood possibly found in trailer at Ruben Flores' home

Testimony resumed Wednesday in the Kristin Smart murder trial following the holiday weekend and an extra day off.

www.ksby.com

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582487051315793920

 

[Seattle1]

Agreed. Most importantly the person who continued to terrorize women, as evidenced by the women who came forward AND the dozens of video files on Paul’s computer of him with unconscious or semi-conscious women, will be going away for good. I can live with that.

ETA - now I wonder the juror who was excused from Ruben’s jury because he was having difficulty with judging another person was foreshadowing how the jury as a whole was feeling.

^^BBM

I think it is more likely that jurors felt Paul was very manipulative to the point that Ruben did not knowingly assist Paul. A defendant is not guilty if they acted under duress or acted unknowingly of a crime (murder).

Criminal defense attorneys often draw upon several legal strategies to challenge an accessory to murder allegation. Some of these include showing that:

• the defendant did not know that the person he helped was going to commit murder, or committed murder,
• no murder took place, and/or
• the accused acted under duress.

Accessory to Murder – What Does it Mean?

Accessory to murder is a criminal offense whereby the perpetrator helps or assists a murderer before or after the commission of the murder.

www.shouselaw.com

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582490127275765760

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582491183753748482

 

[GatorFL]

Finally some justice for the Smart family. It took way too long.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Oh my goodness how wonderful that they've found PF guilty! I cannot imagine the pain and heartache the Smart Family has endured for years, always wondering if they would ever truly know. Let their real healing begin.

#RIPKristin

 

[Seattle1]

A jury acquitted Ruben Flores of charges of accessory to murder after the fact. He was present for the reading of the verdict. Jurors in the Ruben Flores trial were thanked and can now discuss the case.

^^bbm

Perhaps the jurors will shed some light on their decision about Ruben.

 

[Trouble1321075]

Much of the evidence was sealed and I don't recall ground radar credited for "breaking this case."

IMO, it was the blood staining on the soil they dug up under the deck and the trailer next to the property that tested positive for human blood that led to the murder charges. MOO

Forensic specialist testifies presence of blood possibly found in trailer at Ruben Flores' home

Testimony resumed Wednesday in the Kristin Smart murder trial following the holiday weekend and an extra day off.

www.ksby.com

That's right.

That area they found the blood was searched because they had evidence thanks to the radar that a body was once buried there.

I assume someone or something tipped them to look in the yard with radar.

 

[zencompass]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582481249502756864

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582480222816899072

Dear @Emi,

Thank you for sharing the positive news that justice was served today for Kristin Smart.

The commitment and steadfastness of the prosecution team and law enforcement is remarkable.

My heart is with Kristin's family. May they always be surrounded by love and comfort.

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582502476875386881

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582504274596356098