Jurors in the trial of murder suspect Gearold “Roldo” Sotolongo asked today for a read-back of part of Sotolongo’s testimony and also wanted to examine the stick that victim Roger Yale was carrying.
In addition, the jury asked about the correct meaning of the word “deliberate,” as in “acted with deliberate disregard for human life.”
That is one element of second-degree murder. The question was whether deliberate should be understood as in everyday use or whether it has some legal or technical meaning.
After discussing the issues with attorneys, Judge Larry Killoran sent the jury a note saying deliberate should be defined as it is ordinarily used. About 4 p.m. bailiff Travis Mendes took the box containing the stick — it looks like a branch of willow or another soft wood — into the jury deliberation room.
The court reporter will not read back the portion of Sotolongo’s testimony until tomorrow morning.
Sotolongo, 31, stabbed Yale in the heart the morning of Feb. 13, 2016, outside the Hoopa Mini-mart.
Sotolongo testified he was afraid of Yale and acted in self-defense. Video of the incident shows Yale being followed and harassed by a group of people, including Sotolongo.
Yale was trying to avoid the group, and when everyone but Sotolongo left the area he sat down on a curb outside the mini-mart. As Sotolongo walked toward Yale, he stood up with the stick in his right hand.
The instant when the two men made contact was not captured on video, but the ensuing struggle and fatal stabbing were.
Jurors received the case on Thursday afternoon and began deliberating Tuesday morning.
Attorney Zack Curtis represents Sotolongo, with Deputy District Attorneys Roger Rees and Jessica Watson prosecuting the case.
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PREVIOUSLY:
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: Eyewitnesses Recall Fatal Stabbing at the Hoopa Mini-Mart Six Years Ago
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: More Witnesses Identify the Accused as the Person Who Stabbed Victim in the Heart
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: New Evidence Shows That Victim in Hoopa Stabbing Was Carrying Knife in His Pocket
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: Defense Witnesses Say Victim Had Threatened the Accused’s Life and Beaten His Uncle Into a Coma in the Weeks Before the Stabbing
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: Defense Presents Self-Defense Case, While Prosecution Points to the Accused’s History of Jailhouse Fights
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: Testimony Ends; Closing Arguments to Begin Tomorrow Morning
- SOTOLONGO TRIAL: Jury Deliberates But Fails to Reach a Verdict
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