"All he does is talk, he is a lawyer and he is a good talker'"

Deputy District Attorney A.J. Kamada started his opening statement by telling the jurors in Michael Black's case that what his opening statement was not evidence but "what I anticipate witnesses and going to say and what the evidence will show."

"On May 8, at 3:30ish in the morning, the defendant entered the property of Russ Clanton" He said Black awakened Russ Clanton's wife, "Vickie with yelling Russ' name and startling them."

He said Black disappeared. The Clantons were sleeping in a treehouse on their property where there is no phone.  The Clantins were afraid to leave the treehouse and go back to the main residence.

45 minutes later, Black returned. "Russ grabbed a 22 caliber rifle he has in the treehouse for protection. They see a flashlight coming up the driveway. Russ orders the person to get on the ground. He doesn't know if the person has a weapon. He tells his wife to call 911. "

Mr. Kamada said that the Clantons live on " Fox Farm Road in the Trinidad area."

"Vickie is very afraid. Russ tells the person don't move, I will shoot. While waiting for law enforcement, Russ realizes he knows the person; it is a former client. Defendant tells him, "You are lucky this isn't Texas. I will kill you. Russ tells his wife to go get another firearm. She doesn't do it. She is scared. When officers arrive, defendant's truck and a trailer are parked in front of the gate."

"Defendant did stay down. He was still yelling violence and rhetoric at Mr. Clanton. Deputies start walking defendant back to the deputy's car. Deputy Steele does not ask any questions. Defendant offers some very specific quotes including, 'Mr. Clanton is lucky this isn't Texas', 'All he does is talk, he is a lawyer and he is a good talker' and 'Fuck him, I will bury him'."

Black lives a mile "up the road" from the Clantons. Mr. Kamada said that the Tuesday following this incident, the defendant came into Forbes and Associates, acted erratically and told the People in the office that he wanted to buy Mr. Clanton's property; that he was going to pistol whip and shoot Mr. Clanton."

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