The jury trial of double-murder suspect Ulisses Rodriguez is wrapping up, with defense attorney Andrea Sullivan calling her first witnesses today.

One of those testifying was Randall “Randy” Reese, who seemed to have been summoned only to establish that he believed prosecution witness John Doe went by the nickname “Baretta.” Throughout the trial Sullivan has asked witnesses about Doe’s nickname, and they have all said it was Barrera.

Rodriguez.

Doe implicated Rodriguez in the shooting and testified Rodriguez forced him to help him move the bodies into Kuemmel’s SUV, which was later set on fire.

Sullivan asked Reese whether Doe and Sanchez came to him for help.

“They were in fear for their lives,” Reese said. “They were afraid the same guy who shot Jeremy and Tiffany were going to kill them. They were scared. They didn’t know what to do.”

Sullivan pointed out that rather than tell the men to go to the police, he advised them to go a lawyer. Doe consulted with local attorney Kathleen Bryson, who arranged an interview with the Sheriff’s Office.

Under cross-examination Deputy District Attorney Luke Bernthal asked Reese whether Doe’s nickname was actually Barrera.

“I thought it was Baretta.”

“How is your hearing?”

“I don’t hear very well.”

Some incriminating evidence presented earlier by the prosecution was a video showing Rodriguez filling up a gasoline can at a gas station in Redway. It’s assumed gasoline was used to torch Kuemmel’s SUV. He was at the gas station about 6:30 p.m. and the fire was first reported at 8:22 p.m.

Sullivan showed part of that video to the jury today, with Desireae Hadley, a private investigator working for the defense, pointing out there was a generator in the back of Rodriguez’s blue Lexus. Perhaps he needed the gas for the generator? Hadley said Rodriguez pumped gas into the can “for 30 seconds.”

When Rodriguez drove away from the gas station, he headed south toward Garberville rather than north to where the shootings occurred.

Under cross-examination, Bernthal questioned Hadley about why, if the generator was so important, she hadn’t gone to look at the generator itself. Instead, Hadley did some Internet research and determined the generator was probably a small Honda.

Today was a disappointing day for the prosecution, as it was revealed prime witness David Kane, also known as “the man from Hawaii,” will not be testifying.

District Attorney’s Investigator Martim Morris, who tracked Kane to Las Vegas, said Kane is back in Hawaii and “not responding.”

If anyone saw the actual shootings it would have been Kane. He was there with Rodriguez when gunshots were heard. Minutes later Doe and Sanchez saw Kuemmel and Ellebrecht dead, with obvious gunshot wounds.

Another potential issue for the prosecution is the timing of the fire. A law enforcement officer drove by the scene of the blaze at 8:15 p.m. and saw nothing. Seven minutes later, a 911 call came in.

Sheriff’s Detective Scott Hicks testified today it took him eight minutes to drive from the marijuana grow to the turnout where the car was burned.

The trial will be dark Tuesday, as attorneys are way ahead of schedule and the next defense witness isn’t scheduled until Wednesday.

Judge Gregory Elvine-Kreis told jurors to report back at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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