"It's really Russ versus the defendant."

The jury started deliberations at 3:45 in the Michael Black case where he is charged with alleged criminal threats against local attorney Russ Clanton.

Deputy District Attorney  A.J. Kamada gave his closing argument and a brief rebuttal.

"The story here is pretty clear, he recapped the incident on May 8, 2018 very briefly and pretty much cited Russ Clanton's testimony.

"Mr. Clanton is able to quickly subdue the stranger," said Mr. Kamada. That statement isn't exactly helping bolster the element of criminal threat that Russ Clanton was  in sustained fear of his safety or the safety of his wife.

He cited three specific threats Russ Clanton said Black made. "I will slit your throat", "I am going to shoot you" and "I am gonna kill you." Black disputed certain statements Russ Clanton claims he said.

The only corroboration of one of the statements is from Russ Clanton's wife, who heard one of the statements but was not present during the entire altercation between Black and Russ Clanton.

Mr. Kamada cited couple of statemenrs Deputy Shane said Black made. Black admitted he made the statements Deputy Steele said he did.

"Do you think these statements were said?,"Mr. Kamada said to the jury. "It's just the two of them there. It's really Russ versus the defendant."

Mr. Kamada brought up credibility. Who will the jury believe? What will the evidence support?

Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2019/01/be-careful-what-you-want-you-wont-be.html?m=1