SALINAS, Calif. — It’s the second week of deliberations in the Kristin Smart murder trial and now the case is facing yet another delay.
After reviewing the case for several days, one of the juries in the trial must start deliberations from the beginning after one of the male members of the Ruben Flores jury admitted to speaking to a priest over the weekend. He told the judge, “This case hasn’t been easy… people’s lives are at stake.”
The admission was initially made to a female juror who then reported those comments to the court.
She told the judge her fellow juror seemed “anxious about making a decision one way or the other.”
The male juror assured the court he did not discuss details of the case, he just needed spiritual guidance after days of not being able to sleep.
The judge ultimately decided to excuse the male juror to ensure an impartial trial for the 81-year-old defendant accused of helping his son, Paul, hide the body of college student Kristin Smart more than two decades ago.
An alternate juror who sat through the trial has been called back to court and deliberations will start from the beginning.
The trial lasted more than three months and attorneys typically prepare for one day of deliberations per week of testimony.
Both verdicts – Paul and Ruben’s – must be read back-to-back so it could be a while before the case sees a final outcome.
