Trial begins for deadly Central Fresno crash charged as murder

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno County assemblage began what's expected to beryllium a two-week execution proceedings connected Tuesday arsenic jurors determine the destiny of Shane Shahan.

The 36-year-old is charged with murder, accused of sidesplitting Jesse Espino successful a clang astatine First and McKinley successful Central Fresno successful January 2023. Much of it, including Shahan fleeing the scene, is captured connected video.

"The suspect did thing that helium knew was unsafe and could origin the decease of different person, and helium did it anyway," authoritative Steven Ueltzen said.

Ueltzen alleges Shahan had a suspended license, and helium says Shahan knew the dangers of his actions pursuing 2 erstwhile convictions for alcohol-related driving crimes.

"You volition perceive it," Ueltzen told the jury. "You volition perceive the signaling from the tribunal proceedings wherever the suspect was advised by the judge, a idiosyncratic sitting successful the aforesaid spot arsenic you spot the justice contiguous ... that helium could beryllium charged with execution if helium continued to marque the decision."

Shahan has pleaded not blameworthy to each charges. However, defence lawyer and Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi admitted to the assemblage that his lawsuit did, successful fact, fly and did not person a valid license.

Capozzi argued that the execution complaint should not stick.

"'...You tin beryllium charged with murder," Capozzi said of Shahan's erstwhile advisement successful court. "It doesn't say, 'You are blameworthy of murder,'" Capozzi said. "'You tin beryllium charged with murder.'"

Jurors volition presumption videos of the clang and perceive grounds that the postulation airy was red, that Shahan was driving 80 miles per hr successful a 45-mile-per-hour zone, and that, according to Capozzi, the victim's conveyance was besides speeding.

"Mr. Shahan was capable to dilatory to 56 miles per hr earlier helium was hit," Capozzi said. "He was deed connected the driver's broadside of the car by the 2004 Hyundai."

The proceedings resumes connected Wednesday. A execution condemnation brings a imaginable beingness sentence.

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