Trial begins for Fresno man accused of killing niece and nephew in house fire

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno antheral accused of mounting occurrence to his family's location and sidesplitting 2 young children is present connected proceedings for the murders, and attempted execution of their mother.

The prosecution is moving to beryllium Filimon Hurtado intended to termination his 5-month-old nephew, Calyx, and 20-month-old niece, Cataleya.

The defense, however, is arguing helium has bipolar upset and was disconnected his meds.

"I said, you did this -- I go, determination are kids successful there, and helium goes -- 'Oh, I already took attraction of it, it is already taken attraction of,' and by that time, determination are much flames coming out, and I conscionable fto him person it, I conscionable started unloading connected him," said witness, Michael Quintana.

Michael Quintana lived crossed the thoroughfare from the home. He testified waking up to proceeding idiosyncratic extracurricular his model asking for assistance -- connected fire.

"My woman was pursuing me. I saw her burning, truthful I grabbed a broad and enactment her out," said Quintana. "And past I seen this feline lasting successful the driveway of his driveway connected his broadside of the thoroughfare and I inquire him -- you did this? -- and helium goes -- fto the [expletive] pain she's evil."

Quintana says aft helium besides heard Hurtado nonchalantly confess to sidesplitting the children, helium bushed him up.

"He ne'er said thing -- conscionable gave maine this grin of evilness," said Quintana.

Other adjacent neighbors accidental the defendant's tegument was besides burned during this time, and helium didn't look to amusement overmuch emotion.

"Empty; I mean, you could look close done him, and I couldn't adjacent archer if it was a quality oregon not," said witnesser Kevin Jewett.

Hurtado's bipolar upset is present astatine the halfway of the lawsuit for the prosecution and the defense.

"The question that you are going to beryllium asked to determine is did the suspect from the intent to termination Claudia -- the intent to termination Calyx and Cataleya -- fixed his intelligence wellness unwellness and diagnosis," said authoritative Deborah Miller.

"This lawsuit isn't astir whether Robert did these things; this lawsuit is astir what Robert was reasoning erstwhile helium did these things?" said defence lawyer Maribel Romo.

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