Murder trial begins for accused Fresno drunk driver

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An accused drunk operator appeared successful tribunal for a execution proceedings connected Thursday.

Kimsol Ban sat with his lawyer arsenic prosecutors opened their lawsuit to the jury.

"...(H)e made a prime to proceed to portion and drive," Deputy District Attorney Christopher Moss said.

Ban is accused of driving drunk astatine astir 3 times the ineligible limit, thing helium has denied.

He pleaded not blameworthy to execution aft prosecutors said helium caused a deadly 2022 clang that killed his woman astatine the eastbound Highway 168 McKinley Avenue off-ramp.

"When the suspect collided into that tree, his beforehand rider and woman was ejected from the vehicle," Moss said.

A rider successful the backmost survived large injuries.

Moss told the assemblage that Ban knew the risks of drunk driving pursuing a 2011 DUI conviction. Action News has besides learned Ban's member was progressive successful a 2016 DUI that killed 4 people.

"He was advised that if helium continued to thrust nether the power of intoxicant oregon drugs and, arsenic a effect of his driving, idiosyncratic was killed, helium tin and astir apt would beryllium charged with murder," Moss said.

The defence did not connection an opening connection connected Thursday and alternatively chose to hold until adjacent week.

Ban's attorney, Tiffany Pack, confirmed to Action News that Ban volition instrumentality the stand.

Pack volition reason that Ban did not origin the mishap and, therefore, indispensable beryllium acquitted.

"Based connected each the statements that you were contiguous for oregon collected, they all, essentially, stated the suspect was the driver?" Moss asked 1 of the responding California Highway Patrol officers. "Yes," the serviceman said.

"Did anybody ever authorities otherwise?" Moss asked. "No," the serviceman said.

The assemblage besides saw graphic photos of the victims and the crash. In 1 picture, the airbag is deployed. In another, the windshield is afloat blown retired from the passenger's ejection.

"It is just to accidental my lawsuit was successful a authorities of somber shock?" Pack asked the officer. "Yeah, you could accidental that," the serviceman said.

For quality updates, travel Gabe Ferris connected Facebook, X and Instagram.