‘The end is near’ in Kristin Smart murder trial, judge says. Here’s what’s next

Chloe Jones
·2 min read
14

The trial against the Flores men for Kristin Smart’s murder was delayed Monday after an unexpected juror emergency.

A juror serving on Paul Flores’ jury was at first going to be an hour late, but then ended up not being able to attend trial proceedings at all, Monterey County Superior Court judge Jennifer O’Keefe told the court Monday.

Instead of swearing in an alternate, the defense and prosecution both agreed to delay Monday’s proceedings, O’Keefe said. If the juror still cannot make it to court Tuesday, then an alternate will replace them, she added.

Tuesday will be a “fairly full day of testimony and hopefully the end is near, ladies and gentleman,” O’Keefe told the court.

The defense for Paul and Ruben Flores is expected to call witnesses throughout the week — with James Ha, a certified animal behaviorist, and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office detective Clint Cole expected to take the stand in the coming days.

Ha’s testimony is meant to discredit the human remains detection dog alerts that occurred throughout the investigation of Smarts disappearance — both in 1996 and in recent years — according to unsealed documents.

San Luis Obispo County Deputy Ditrict Attorney Chris Peuvrelle, left, speaks with defense attorney Robert Sanger in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept. 26, 2022. Sanger’s client, Paul Flores, is on trial for the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.
San Luis Obispo County Deputy Ditrict Attorney Chris Peuvrelle, left, speaks with defense attorney Robert Sanger in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept. 26, 2022. Sanger’s client, Paul Flores, is on trial for the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.

According to his website, DrJimHa.com, Ha does behavior consulting for dogs and cats for aggression, anxiety and other misbehaviors and provides expert legal witness services for criminal, civil and dangerous dog actions.

During pretrial motions in early July, the prosecution challenged Ha’s expertise, alleging he was an expert in birds and primates rather than cadaver dogs.

The prosecution rested its case against the Flores men on Sept. 20 — after more than two months of witness testimony.

Court is scheduled to resume Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., then is expected to continue throughout the end of the week st 8:30 a.m. each day.

Paul Flores, left, and his father, Ruben Flores, stand in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept 26, 2022. The two are on trial in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.
Paul Flores, left, and his father, Ruben Flores, stand in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept 26, 2022. The two are on trial in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.
Paul Flores, left, and his father, Ruben Flores, sit in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept 26, 2022. The two are on trial in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.
Paul Flores, left, and his father, Ruben Flores, sit in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept 26, 2022. The two are on trial in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.
From left to right, Paul Flores, his father, Ruben Flores, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer O’Keefe and Ruben Flores’ defense attorney, Harold Mesick, appear in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept 26, 2022. The two Flores men are on trial in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.
From left to right, Paul Flores, his father, Ruben Flores, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer O’Keefe and Ruben Flores’ defense attorney, Harold Mesick, appear in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas on Sept 26, 2022. The two Flores men are on trial in connection with the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart.