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FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno County assemblage connected Tuesday heard cardinal grounds successful the execution proceedings of Shane Shahan, arsenic prosecutors called their archetypal witnesser to attest astir a fatal clang successful January 2023.
The witness, Fresno Police Officer Vincent Tinoco, was among the archetypal officers to respond to a clang astatine First and McKinley.
Prosecutors allege Shahan caused the collision portion driving astatine a precocious complaint of velocity and nether the influence, resulting successful the decease of rider Jesse Espino.
Tinoco testified that Shahan fled the clang country aft officers arrived.
"They looked backmost to our conveyance and proceeded to tally northbound on the 41," Tinoco said.
RELATED: Trial begins for deadly Central Fresno clang charged arsenic murder
Jurors were shown video that prosecutors said depicts Shahan driving astir 80 miles per hr earlier moving a reddish airy and crashing into a Hyundai.
Investigators said Espino was taken to a hospital, wherever helium aboriginal died. Prosecutors besides said Shahan had intoxicant and marijuana successful his system.
Tinoco described Shahan's behaviour aft helium was detained pursuing the crash.
"He was conscionable saying, 'Sorry. Sorry. Sorry, I got scared. I didn't cognize what to do,'" Tinoco testified.
The serviceman told jurors helium observed respective behaviors helium associated with intoxication.
"He was scared. I could odor the odor of intoxicant connected him. He was sweating profusely. Talking erratically," Tinoco said.
Shahan has pleaded not blameworthy to a execution charge. Prosecutors reason the complaint is based connected alleged intoxication astatine the clip of the crash, though Shahan was not charged separately with driving nether the influence.
Defense lawyer and Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi questioned Tinoco astir his observations, suggesting Shahan whitethorn not person shown wide signs of impairment.
"You didn't callback immoderate slurred speech, correct?" Capozzi asked.
"That's correct," Tinoco replied.
"You don't callback bloodshot eyes?" Capozzi asked.
"No, sir," the serviceman responded.
Capozzi besides questioned whether photos taken aft the clang could amusement signs of intoxication.
"[Were] immoderate pictures taken of the defendant's face?" Capozzi asked.
"That, I can't recall. I wasn't determination for that," Tinoco said.
Later grounds indicated Tinoco was not specifically looking for bloodshot eyes portion assessing Shahan astatine the scene.
Attorneys successful the lawsuit estimation the proceedings volition past astir 2 weeks.
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