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

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FLORES, PAUL RUBEN 21F-02402-A 04/04/2022 08:30 D5
Robert M Sanger Pre-Trial Conference
04/06/2022 08:30 D5 Robert M Sanger Readiness Conference

FLORES, RUBEN 21F-02402-B 04/04/2022 08:30 D5
Harold V. Mesick Pre-Trial Conference
04/06/2022 08:30 D5 Harold V. Mesick Readiness Conference

5day.pdf
 
Judge announces major change in Kristin Smart trial
The prosecution opposed a change of venue, arguing that simply hearing about the case through widespread news coverage wouldn't necessarily mean potential jurors were biased. The trial was scheduled to start April 25 but is expected to be postponed while a new location is found. A status conference is scheduled for April 4
Click to expand...
 
Monday, April 4th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 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; legally declared dead on May 25, 2002) – *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44/now 45) arrested (4/13/21), charged (4/14/21) & arraigned (10/20/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80) arrested (4/13/21), charged (4/14/21) & arraigned (10/20/21) 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.
Trial set to begin on 4/25/22. Trial will not be held in San Luis Obispo County.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 to 3/9/22 reference post #94 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #3
3/16/22 Update: No info on what happened at hearing. The change of venue motion points to the extensive media coverage of the case & the prominence of Smart's likeness in the community on billboards & at memorials as well as the podcast dedicated to her disappearance. It claims Paul Flores has been "disparaged & demonized" while being portrayed as the only suspect in the case. It also points to the small population of San Luis Obispo County compared to other counties in California & the gravity of the charge of murder. In a brief filed in opposition to the change of venue request, the District Attorney's Office says the defense's arguments do not demonstrate that the two men will be unable to get a fair & impartial trial in SLO County. Next motions hearing on change of venue on 3/30/22. Pretrial hearing on 4/6/22.
3/30/22 Update: Change of venue motion granted in Smart case. Judge van Rooyen said he does find "there is a reasonable likelihood the defendants would not receive a fair & impartial trial in San Luis Obispo County." Judge Craig Van Rooyen is not striking Susan Flores declaration. He said while parts of her declaration may not be verifiable, most of it can be verified through Arroyo Grande PD records; she recounted in her declaration an experience being harassed at a restaurant. On Monday, 4/4/22 there will be a pretrial conference at 8:30 a.m. on Zoom & pretrial readiness hearing on 4/6/22.
 
Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 23s
BREAKING: In a hearing this morning, the courts established that they will convene on April 20 to decide where the #KristinSmart case will be moved to.

Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 7m
Replying to @OakesCameryn
Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle who has been prosecuting the case expressed concern about being ready to establish it on that date, as they have not been told which counties are options yet.

Cameryn Oakes [URL='https://twitter.com/OakesCameryn']@OakesCameryn [/URL]7m
If needed, the court will push out the date to April 27 to decide where the trial will be moved.

@Niner next date is the 20th no longer the 6th
 
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Emi said:
Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 23s
BREAKING: In a hearing this morning, the courts established that they will convene on April 20 to decide where the #KristinSmart case will be moved to.

Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 7m
Replying to @OakesCameryn
Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle who has been prosecuting the case expressed concern about being ready to establish it on that date, as they have not been told which counties are options yet.

Cameryn Oakes @OakesCameryn 7m
If needed, the court will push out the date to April 27 to decide where the trial will be moved.

@Niner next date is the 20th no longer the 6th
Click to expand...

Thank you Emi!
 
Emi said:
KSBY @KSBY 35s
Decision expected later this month on trial location for Paul, Ruben Flores. #KristinSmart


ksby.com
Decision expected later this month on trial location for Paul, Ruben Flores
The trial for Paul and Ruben Flores, who are charged in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart, is scheduled to start next month.
Click to expand...

in the article:


During a virtual San Luis Obispo County Superior Court hearing Monday morning, Paul waived time for 60 days and a May 31 trial date was set.

All parties will come back before the judge April 20 for an in-person hearing where the jury trial location is expected to be decided.

So the trial was moved to 5/31/22.
 
This case has received considerable publicity in neighboring counties. I know because I live in one. It will take the attorneys a while to seat a jury, wherever they choose to conduct the trial. IMHO.
 
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Wednesday, April 20th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing for both (@ 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; legally declared dead on May 25, 2002) – *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44/now 45) arrested (4/13/21), charged (4/14/21) & arraigned (10/20/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80/now 81) arrested (4/13/21), charged (4/14/21) & arraigned (10/20/21) 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.
Trial was set to begin on 4/25/22 was continued to 5/31/22. Trial will not be held in San Luis Obispo County.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 to 3/16/22 reference post #108 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #3
3/30/22 Update: Change of venue motion granted in Smart case. Judge van Rooyen said he does find "there is a reasonable likelihood the defendants would not receive a fair & impartial trial in San Luis Obispo County." Judge Craig Van Rooyen is not striking Susan Flores declaration. He said while parts of her declaration may not be verifiable, most of it can be verified through Arroyo Grande PD records; she recounted in her declaration an experience being harassed at a restaurant. On Monday, 4/4/22 there will be a pretrial conference at 8:30 a.m. on Zoom & pretrial readiness hearing on 4/6/22.
4/4/22 Update: In a hearing this morning, the courts established that they will convene on 4/20/22 to decide where the Smart case will be moved to. Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle expressed concern about being ready to establish it on that date, as they have not been told which counties are options yet. If needed, the court will push out the date to 4/27/22 to decide where the trial will be move. Pretrial readiness hearing on 4/6/22 has been cancelled. During a virtual San Luis Obispo County Superior Court hearing, Paul waived time for 60 days & a 5/31/22 trial date was set. The new trial date was selected during a virtual San Luis Obispo County Superior Court pretrial hearing on Monday, Apr. 4.
 
Chloe Jones [URL='https://twitter.com/chloeleejones']@chloeleejones [/URL]23m
I’m at the Flores hearing where the judge is expected to announce the new location for the Kristin Smart murder trial. Paul will be zooming in from jail while Ruben is here in person


Chloe Jones [URL='https://twitter.com/chloeleejones']@chloeleejones [/URL]9m
Seems the hearing is running slightly behind - still hasn’t started yet. I expect the hearing will be rather short unless there has been a disagreement on where the trial should move
 
Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]54m
It looks like just Ruben Flores will be in person today and Paul Flores will be on zoom.

Chloe Jones @chloeleejones 3m
Replying to @chloeleejones
Flores hearing is paused for the time being, not sure when it will begin. They are gonna hear other matters first

Ava Kershner @avakershner 3m
The hearing is on pause at the moment for Regular Calendar hearings. The live stream was stopped and they will be hearing felonies, it looks like we may be here a while before the Flores hearing starts up.

Chloe Jones [URL='https://twitter.com/chloeleejones']@chloeleejones [/URL]15m
Replying to @chloeleejones
No new documents in the court computer about the case and unsure why the time of the hearing is being pushed back.
 
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