Fresno County asked to consider if selling fentanyl could be murder

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- For the archetypal time, Fresno County prosecutors are making the lawsuit that an accused cause trader should go a convicted killer.

Cassidy Gonzalez's destiny present hangs successful the balance.

"Jade was killed by fentanyl. Jade was murdered by Ms. Gonzalez," said authoritative Kendall Reynolds arsenic helium began his opening connection connected Friday.

The lawsuit is pushing ineligible limits and asking the assemblage to determine if selling a cause known to beryllium deadly is the aforesaid arsenic acting with implied malice, the conscious disregard for quality life.

"Evidence volition amusement successful this lawsuit that erstwhile Ms. Gonzalez provided, facilitated that transaction, she knew fentanyl could kill," said Reynolds.

Jurors were taken backmost to the decease of Jade Dreith successful 2022 erstwhile investigators recovered her assemblage successful her Fresno apartment.

"It was the worst infinitesimal of my life," said Sage Dreith, Jade's sister, connected the stand.

The victim's sister testified astir uncovering bluish pills successful the home.

Investigators accidental Gonzalez sold them to Dreith.

She's pleaded not blameworthy to murder.

"The grounds earlier you of what transpired earlier you connected the 15th of January 2022 successful regards to my lawsuit is sentiment and speculation," said defence lawyer Greg Gross.

Jurors, 7 men, and 8 women, are proceeding the case.

Just past fall, Gonzalez expressed her broadside successful an email to Action News, penning she's an "innocent 24-year-old daughter, sister, and mother, that is being actively targeted."

Gonzales besides claims immoderate grounds is being ignored.

"What you volition perceive from Officer Sepeda is simply a connection helium made astatine an earlier hearing, and that was, 'To archer you the truth, I didn't adjacent cognize if we had a transgression that had been committed,'" Gross added.

The proceedings could past 3 weeks.

Prosecutors volition amusement texts, and photos, and telephone respective witnesses.

The defence says it volition inactive autumn short.

"You whitethorn perceive from the DA Crime Analyst, Laura Yonovsky. You whitethorn perceive from Shannon Flynn. You whitethorn perceive from Robert Benavides. And you volition ne'er perceive what the compounds were connected immoderate pills purchased connected January 15, 2022, by Jade," Gross said arsenic helium finished his opening statement.

The proceedings volition proceed with much grounds connected Monday morning.

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