After a delay from 11:15 to 11:39, the attorneys in the Jeff Tsarnas case presented very short opening statements.
The opening statements by Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees and Deputy Conflict Counsel April Van Dyke were about 5 minutes. Started at 11:39 and were done by 11:50. There is nothing the People or defense said today that we have not heard before.
Mr. Rees said, "During the jury selection process, you maybe wondering what this case is about? This is my chance to present what the evidence will show."
"The victim, Marie Kelly was walking across Fernbridge. She had the unfortunate timing of being in the same place as Mr. Tsarnas."
The fact that Tsarnas hit Kelly, "is not a criminal act", said Mr. Rees. He said this is not about whose fault it was that the accident happened.
"After the collision, Mr. Tsarnas failed to stop; failed to provide his information to Marie Kelly; failed to render aid."
"Mr. Tsarnas went to Bear River Casino," said Mr. Rees. He knew he had struck a person. Marie Kelly had a broken, fractured ankle."
"When you reach those conclusions; I am confident you will return a guilty verdict."
"What you will hear in this trial is that it was dark, foggy and wet," said Ms. Van Dyke.
Ms. Van Dyke then summarized the events from the preliminary hearing from the defense perspective.
Marie Kelly was in a fight with her boyfriend, she was upset, she was waiting for a ride, it was a narrow bridge, Kelly did not push the lights on the bridge. Witness testimony states Kelly was wearing dark clothes and taunting drivers.
"Mr. Tsarnas was unfortunate to be driving in the area at that time," said Ms. Van Dyke." She said Kelly was walking in the middle of the bridge with her back to cars.
Tsarnas didn't know he hit a person. The car mirror found on the scene had prior damage. His girlfriend was mad that it was missing. The next morning, Tsarnas' girlfriend read about the hit and run in the news.
Tsarnas called the Sherrif's office. HCSO "patched him to the CHP. " Tsarnas told CHP, I had no idea it was a person. How do I make this right? "
"That is why you will return a not guilty verdict.
Ms. Van Dyke took over Tsarnas' case after the preliminary hearing. Previously, he was represented by Mr. Neal Sanders.
Mr. Patrik Griego represents Kelly.
Locals know that Patrik Griego represented Marci Kitchen. She hit Jeff Tsarnas' daughter Faith who died. Jeff Tsarnas' defense that he did not know he hit a person is what Kitchen said.
Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/03/only-12-jurors-left-to-pick-alternates.html?m=1
Some of the preliminary hearing posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2019/12/after-she-was-hit-alleged-victim-in.html?m=1#more
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2019/12/jeff-tsarnas-held-to-answer-on-hit-and.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2019/12/even-before-jeff-tsarnas-preliminary.html?m=1
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