Sep 19, 2016

Kade Chandler's ex friend who has filed a civil suit and only survivor of Hwy 36 accident testifies about the crash and finding Kendra not breathing and Savannah choking with Kade on top of her under truck

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Kade Chandler this morning. It started today in Courtroom 1 at 10 and will continue this afternoon and possibly tomorrow morning.

Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is prosecuting the case.

Defense counsel Mr. Benjamin Okin and Mr. Manny Daskal are representing Chandler; Mr. Okin was not available this afternoon.

There is a separate civil case yet not filed by a family member and Mr. David Nims was in court with the family. Another civil court case has been filed by Ms. Elan Firpo on behalf of Bradley Theumler. That case keeps having court management conferences scheduled. The next one is scheduled for December. Ms. Firpo was also in court today with Theumler and his mother.

Before the hearing started, Mr. Rees and Mr. Okin spoke with Judge Feeney at the bench about scheduling. Due to a DOJ witness not being available, his testimony will be continued and that date to schedule testimony was set for October 4 at 4 p.m. after the last witness, CHP Investigator Garth Gundersen finishes testifying.

Chandler waived his right to a continuous preliminary hearing for the testimony of the DOJ witness. Dressed in a plaid shirt and olive green pants, Chandler sat quietky next to Mr. Okin scribbling on the note pad in front of him.

Bradley Theumler was the first witness to testify this morning, the hearing started around 10.

Cross examination by Mr. Okin started at 11:30 with a brief redirect by DDA Rees for a couple minutes. Theumler's testimony ended at noon. He is subject to recall.

Theumler was an excellent witness. Answered questions honestly; and Mr. Okin was unable to impeach any of his testimony.

The second and only witness this afternoon was CHP's MAIT Investigator Brody Mitchell. He gave very detailed explainations and informations on injuries, how they determined where who was in the vehicle. Investigator Mitchell's cross examination, just like Theumler's did nothing to impeach his credibility or nhave any yield any information pointing to Chandler's benefit.

Tomorrow, the People will wrap up with the testimony of CHP Invesigator Garth Gundersen.

The original incident occurred in February 2015.  Chandler was 20 years old at that time.

Chandler is charged with Count 1 gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, alleged victim Kendra Lewis;Count 2 gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated; alleged victim Savannah Kindred and a special allegation of great bodily injury to Theumler.

No other media was in court.


3 comments:

  1. wondering how this ended yesterday ?

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  2. It did not end yesterday because the hearing is not over until the Department of Justice Criminalist testifies.

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  3. Really looking forward to your story on the last day of prelim for this case today. Praying for no continuation.....Thank you John for being the one and only journalist willing to put in the time to go to each of these court settings on this case. You are much appreciated.

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