[ad_1]
A judge heard pre-trial motions on Monday in the Sergio Correa case, who is accused of killing three members of the Lindquist family in Griswold in 2017 and setting their house on fire.
A 12-member jury and six alternates were finalized this month for Correa’s trial after a weeks-long jury selection process. The trial, which has been delayed by more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to start in November and last for several weeks.
Correa is charged with murder under special circumstances, home invasion, arson and other charges in connection with the deaths of Janet and Kenneth Lindquist, 61 and 56, respectively, and their son Matthew, 21 , December 20, 2017.
Multiple pre-trial motions were heard by New London Superior Court on Monday morning before Judge Hunch Kwak, including an objection from defense attorneys for Correa, Joseph Lopez and Corrie-Ann Mainville, to allow the testimony of his sister, Ruth Correa, on the actions of her brother. taken towards Janet Lindquist before her death which were allegedly sexual in nature.
Ruth Correa pleaded guilty in May to three counts of murder under a plea deal that requires her to testify against her brother in exchange for a suggested 40-year prison sentence.
Lawyers discussed on Monday Ruth Correa’s testimony in which she recalled finding Sergio Correa in Janet Lindquists’ bedroom the night of her murder, causing her to take off her underwear and make “derogatory” comments of a sexual nature . Lawyers for both sides called Janet Lindquist’s actions “torture”, but Correa’s defense attorneys argued that since Correa does not face any charges directly related to these actions, Ruth Correa’s testimony to them. subject should not be allowed. during the trial.
Deputy State Attorney Stephen M. Carney, who is pursuing the case, said Ruth Correa’s testimony about these actions towards Janet Linquist helped tell the full story of what happened on December 20 2017.
“I think it is important that the jury understand as much as possible about what was going on in this house,” he said, adding that Ruth Correa is able to tell the story of what happened in that house. that night and that “the jury has a right” to hear this.
Carney said that while the account of what Ruth Correa said she saw in the bedroom is disturbing, it is “not so out of place and disturbing that it unfairly arouses the emotions of the jury.”
He also said it showed the motive for Janet Lindquist’s murder and that Sergio Correa was in the family home that night with the intention of committing illegal acts.
Mainville called the testimony “very inflammatory and very moving” since no charges were brought against his client regarding this particular testimony.
“Basically, we are going to put to the jury something that is highly prejudicial and suggests sexual misconduct and torture prior to the killings,” she argued.
Lawyers discussed whether the testimony corroborated physical evidence since Ms Lindquist’s underwear was on her body when they were found. Mainville argued that the testimony did not corroborate any other evidence in the case.
Correa, dressed in a bright yellow jumpsuit, appeared in court and sat quietly in the courtroom, occasionally chatting with his lawyers. Members of the Lindquist family were also present in the courtroom on Monday.
Lawyers also discussed a motion to remove evidence of a gas container and knives found in a car Sergio Correa was known to use around 10 days after the murders.
The judge asked if the objects had a connection to the crime scene or DNA evidence linked to the victims. Carney said no, but argued that there was evidence and testimony that a can of gasoline and knives were used to commit the crimes.
Mainville questioned the relevance of the fact that these items were found in her client’s car more than a week after the home invasion / murders and said she believed presenting this evidence at trial was ” extremely damaging ”, arguing that it could not be linked to the crimes of which he is accused.
Carney noted that on the whole, lawyers on both sides were trying “to get to the same place and present the jury with things that are not deceptive or inflammatory.”
Correa, who turns 30 on October 3, is due in court next Monday for another preliminary hearing. He is being held in lieu of a $ 3 million bond at the New Haven Correctional Center.
[ad_2]
Source link