Ex-classmate convicted of murdering long-missing California student Kristin Smart

Oct 18 (Reuters) – A former classmate of Kristin Smart, the California school freshman whose 1996 disappearance had lengthy been one of the state’s most sensational unsolved crimes, was discovered responsible on Tuesday of first-degree homicide for her demise.

The responsible verdict towards Paul Flores, 45, was returned by a 12-member jury in Monterey County Superior Court on the finish of a three-month trial. He was arrested and charged with Smart’s demise in April final 12 months.

Flores faces a most penalty of 25 years to life in jail when sentenced on Dec. 9.

“Today, justice delayed is not justice denied,” San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow informed a news convention.

A separate jury acquitted the defendant’s father, Ruben Flores, 81, accused of serving to to cover Smart’s physique, of being an adjunct to homicide after the actual fact.

Smart, who was 19 when she went lacking, was final seen strolling to her dormitory on the campus of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, about 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Los Angeles, at about 2 a.m. on May 25, 1996. She was coming back from an off-campus occasion.

Prosecutors alleged Paul Flores killed her throughout a rape or tried rape. Her stays have by no means been recovered though investigators have mentioned they searched 18 areas for her physique.

Flores, lengthy the primary suspect in her disappearance, had informed investigators he had left the identical gathering with Smart however parted firm from her a few block from her dorm.

Prosecutors and Sheriff Ian Parkinson each credited a 10-part documentary podcast, “Your Own Backyard,” launched by freelance journalist Chris Lambert in 2019 with unearthing new proof and witnesses that helped investigators crack the case.

Delays within the investigation of the case prompted state lawmakers to move laws requiring faculties and universities to share information extra shortly about lacking college students with off-campus police.

According to a courtroom account revealed by the San Luis Obispo Tribune newspaper, Paul Flores flinched because the responsible verdict was learn. The sufferer’s father, Stan Smart, reacted with a smile and put his round her mom, Denise Smart, who was in tears.

Defense lawyer Robert Sanger informed The Tribune afterward that “the case is still pending,” however declined additional remark. During his summation to jurors, Sanger asserted there was “no evidence of a murder.”

The trial was moved from San Luis Obispo County in a change of venue requested by protection attorneys as a result of of intense pretrial publicity surrounding the investigation.

Sheriff Parkinson vowed that the case would stay open till the sufferer’s stays are discovered and returned to her household.

Stan Smart, chatting with reporters following the trial, expressed his appreciation of the result however added, “Without Kristin, there is no joy or happiness in this verdict.”

Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Edwina Gibbs

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