Here is a picture of the courtroom as prosecutors (right table) and the defense team, including Kylr Yust, (left table) wait for the trial to resume on Monday 4/12/2021.
Judge Collins tells defense attorneys he is not asking for a decision right now on whether Yust testifies. He just wants the attorneys to have ample time to discuss with Yust about his right to testify.
Defense/prosecution now going back/forth about specific exhibits the defense plans to present regarding Jessep Carter.
Turlington says they want jail guards to testify about what happened w/Carter's suicide.
The jury (I don't believe) is in the courtroom yet.
Defense wants to read the deposition of Al Yust, Kylr Yust's grandfather. Prosecution now objecting to letting the deposition of Al Yust (deceased) be read into the record. Judge allowing the deposition to be read into the record.
State now objecting saying defense questioned Al Yust in a leading manner, especially since Al Yust said several times during his deposition, I don't remember.
Judge Collins rules he will allow the deposition to be read before the jury.
Bishop lives in Raymore. In 2007, Bishop lived in Belton. Went to Belton High School, was friends with Kara through school. He learned Kara Kopetsky was missing first through school, then the media. Bishop did not know Kylr Yust.
Bishop said he and Kopetsky were friends when they were younger. Bishop said she called him and asked him for a ride. Police contacted him. He made a statement about what happened.
She called him asking for a ride. ***Evening*** of May 4, 2007.
He was at home. @kmbc#YustTrial
He was at home. Kara wanted to get a ride from Lakewood apartments to Cimarron Trail.
This was after dark on May 4, 2007. He declined to give her a ride.
Bishop said he cannot recall if it was a different number Kara called from. Police never asked for his phone. Bishop gave police permission to access his phone records. But he doesn't know what they did after.
Heflin testimony: Kara walked up the hill. A four-door sedan, a cream color car came by. It had a different color door or trunk. Something was different.
On cross/ex. Heflin said she was distracted with kids that day. Told police she was going through a pretty nasty divorce.
Prosecutor: You can't tell this jury it was Kara.
I didn't know at the time it was her. After seeing the news a few years later, it was her. @kmbc#YustTrial
First two defense witnesses in the case to help acquit Kylr Yust. Brett Bishop testified he got a call from Kara Kopetsky on the *evening* of 5/4/07, asking him for a ride. Deborah Heflin said she saw Kara walking from Belton High School on 5/4/07.
Alfred Yust's deposition read into the record. Deposition is admitted into evidence. Ben Butler now asking questions of Riplinger.
Butler: "You had contact with Alfred Yust?"
"You told him how to answer the questions at that deposition, didn't you?
Prosecution: The only purpose the defense wants to utilize them for is these specific exhibits.
Judge: "I'm trying to figure out what the relevance is to things that are found in Mr. Carter's jail cell."
Turlington: The state did not want us to get into anything about this in their case. Their case got into this matter. The state had Crystal Taylor testify about what caused Mr. Carter to hang himself.
Judge Collins rules he is not going to allow the jury to hear the testimony of the Jackson County jail employees about the contents found in Jessep Carter's jail cell, including a note written in code.
BREAKING: A judge will allow a camera to record the murder trial of Kylr Yust. The camera will remain at the rear of the courtroom. No livestreaming. #yusttrial
A jury of 13 women and three men is now in transit from St. Charles County. The jury has four alternates. Opening statements will begin this afternoon. The trial is scheduled to last three weeks.
Now -- defense and prosecution are disputing information regarding witnesses. Specifically, regarding another man who allegedly confessed to killing Kara Kopetsky. Judge says he will hold a hearing during the trial on the witness. @kmbc#yusttrial
QUICK CONCLUSION: The Kansas City area needs a couple more weeks to know if mask mandates implemented just before the July 4th holiday are working, according to four top public health experts @kmbc spoke with Thursday.
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As the nationwide debate over mask usage intensifies, more governments and retailers have required masks. But those policies, studies have shown, take at least 3-4 weeks to see the true effect of change in the spread of COVID-19.
June 27 is when @KCMO implemented a mask mandate.