Monika Wissel, Kyle Zoellner's mother and her co-defendant Tom Duncan, had a preliminary hearing today in 2020. I have not covered Wissel since 2019. In previous coverage linked below, there is a post from 2016; Wissel was arrested with a Tommy Duncan. For her latest case, her attorney is Deputy Conflict Counsel Owen Tipps. Wissel is out of custody. This is a previous booking photo.
First, she was not muted on Zoom and kept talking before the informal call on cases so everyone could hear her on livestream.
The preliminary calendar was long with attorneys sick, out of the office and the usual Humboldt Superior Court delays but Wissel was the only one piping up throughout the morning. Judge Wilson who covered three courts back to back this morning had to explain more than once why her case was not being called. Then she interrupted him during another case to inform him that Deputy Public Defender Ben McLaughlin told Duncan to leave the courtroom. One, it is none of her business. Two, due to COVID 19 protocols, people appearing in court do wait outside until the case is called. Sometimes attorneys discuss what is happening and if it is a plea or continuance, they appear in court and the client waits outside.
When her case was finally called, Mr. Tipps was asking for today's preliminary hearing to be vacated because there was a plea deal offer.
"No," yelled Wissel. "I'd like to take it to jury trial."
Mr. Tipps explained to Wissel that the People had made a new offer that he wanted to discuss with her. Judge Wilson explained she was not obligated to take the deal.
After Mr. McLaughlin said based on Duncan's statements, the People would be able to convict, Wissel shut up. Duncan entered a 60 day time waiver.
Resetting of preliminary hearing is on June 3.
Previous posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2019/12/kyle-zoellners-mother-arrested-this.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/10/kyle-zoellners-mother-monika-wissel.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2016/11/probation-search-in-king-salmon-results.html?m=1
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