An elderly Arizona rancher whose murder trial recently resulted in a hung jury will not be retried. the prosecutor said.
In January 2023, Gabriel Quen Buittimea, 48, a Mexican national who had been deported from the United States multiple times after illegally crossing the border, was shot and killed on the property of George Alan Kelly, 75. was discovered. . Kelly owns 170 acres near Nogales, Arizona, just across the border from Nogales, Mexico.
Kelly was the one who discovered Kuyen-Buitimare’s body and called the police. Mr Kelly admitted earlier that day that he had spotted a group armed with AK-47s entering his property and fired several warning shots into the air, but the ‘Conservative Review’ Host Daniel Horowitz insisted none of the warning shots could have hit anyone. Daniel Horowitz,” it was reported shortly after Kelly’s arrest.
Kelly was ultimately charged with second-degree murder. He had refused before, but plea bargain He would then be found guilty of negligent homicide.
At Kelly’s trial earlier this month, Kelly’s attorney Brenna Larkin pointed out that the bullet that killed Quyen-Buitimea was never recovered, and that Kuyen-Buytimea’s unzipped backpack and broken buckle showed that he was He claimed that it suggested he had been the victim of a robbery. arizona daily star report.
According to Dr. Ron Martinelli, who assisted Kelly’s defense, Quen Buitimare was not an innocent “immigrant seeking the American dream.” pro bono. Martinelli told NewsNation that Quyen-Buytimea may have been involved in human smuggling, and as evidence Martinelli posted the photo below, which was reportedly taken a day or two before Kuyen-Buytimea’s death. pointed out the photo.
Photos also shown to jurors showed Quyen-Buytimea wearing “camouflage clothing and tactical boots” and carrying a “sophisticated two-way radio,” all of which It is a sign that he may have been working as a scout for a cartel or other human traffickers. Martinelli explained.
NewsNation YouTube video screenshot
Most jurors appeared to be persuaded by Kelly’s defense. After two days of deliberation, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink formally declared a mistrial on April 22, after failing to reach a unanimous decision on the case.Of the 5 men and 3 women on the juryseven people voted not guilty and “the only holdout” voted guilty, according to Kelly’s statement. defense team Said.
After the mistrial, Kelly did not yet know whether prosecutors would retry the case. He got his answer at Monday’s hearing.
“Due to the unique circumstances and challenges surrounding this case, the Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office has decided not to seek a new trial,” Deputy County Attorney Kimberly Hanley told Judge Fink.
Another hearing will be held in Mr. Fink’s court at a later date to determine whether Mr. Kelly’s case will be dismissed with prejudice.If it’s dismissed with prejudice, Kelly will do it. I never have In this case it will be retried.
“The nightmare is over,” Kelly told reporters outside the courthouse, expressing his condolences to Quyen-Buytimea’s loved ones.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
