Jury Dismissed Early Amid Motion to Dismiss in Ongoing Trial
In a surprising turn of events, the jury in the closely watched trial was unexpectedly excused for the remainder of the day on July 12. This dismissal came shortly after proceedings commenced, prompted by an expedited motion to dismiss filed by the defense. The motion accuses the prosecution of concealing critical evidence, injecting a layer of complexity into the already intricate legal proceedings.
Testimony Regarding Ammunition Box
Earlier in the day, court testimony involved Poppell, who recounted receiving a box of ammunition from Troy Teske. Teske, a former Arizona law enforcement officer and acquaintance of Gutierrez’s father, had previously been described as a “good Samaritan.” However, his role has come under increased scrutiny during the trial. The ammunition transfer occurred after Gutierrez’s conviction for involuntary manslaughter in March, related to her involvement in the tragic death of Hutchins.
Questioning of Evidence Handling Procedures
During cross-examination, Spiro, representing the defense, pressed Poppell on her decision not to include the ammunition box with the primary evidence from the Rust case. This line of questioning suggests the defense is exploring potential irregularities in evidence handling.
Denial of Intentional Concealment
Prior to the jury’s arrival this morning, Poppell reiterated her stance, refuting any suggestion of deliberately hiding evidence. In her testimony to Spiro, she stated she was instructed to file the box under a separate case number, a directive she followed. This testimony seeks to counter accusations of evidence suppression.
Defense Alleges Evidence Withheld from Baldwin
The defense’s motion to dismiss makes a serious allegation: that the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the prosecution intentionally “concealed from Baldwin” evidence indicating that the live round in question originated from Seth Kenney. This accusation forms the crux of the defense’s argument for dismissal.
Hearing on Motion with Props Supplier Testimony
Following a midday recess, the prosecution called Seth Kenney, proprietor of PDQ Props, to the stand. Kenney’s company had been contracted to provide prop firearms and dummy ammunition for the Rust production. His testimony, conducted without the jury present, is part of a hearing specifically addressing the defense’s motion to dismiss. This hearing is pivotal in determining the future course of the trial.
Kenney Denies Supplying Live Rounds
Kenney testified that his company has supplied dummy rounds to over one thousand productions. He asserted that he had “never” considered the possibility that live ammunition could have originated from his supplies, firmly denying any potential link between his props and the live round.
Prosecution Dismisses Defense Claims as Baseless
Morrissey, representing the prosecution, characterized the defense’s attempt to implicate Kenney as “a wild goose chase,” dismissing their claims as unfounded and irrelevant to the central issues of the case. This statement highlights the opposing perspectives and mounting tension between the legal teams.