Witness refuses to answer questions about 2021 Reedley murder

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The complexity of a gang-related execution proceedings was connected afloat show astatine the Fresno County Courthouse connected Thursday.

Prosecutors person charged David Cedeno with execution for the 2021 decease of Elizandro Diaz Jr. successful Reedley. It happened aft an statement astatine the Oaks Mini Mart. The attorneys each hold the 2 men were successful rival gangs.

Cedeno has pleaded not guilty, and Thursday was the archetypal afloat time of proceedings evidence.

As prosecutors called Nancy Garcia to the stand, she swore to archer the truth. She answered questions for respective minutes, but the hostility that comes with pack cases soon boiled over.

When attorneys pressed her connected what she saw astatine the country astatine Bravante Produce, Garcia did not privation to accidental thing else.

"Ms. Garcia, did that refresh your recollection oregon your memory?" the authoritative said. "I plead the fifth," Garcia said.

The justice was stern, telling Garcia she could not bash that.

"Okay, I'm ordering you to reply the question directly," Judge Jonathan Conklin said. "I recognize you're concerned, but you don't person a Fifth Amendment close not to reply the question."

But adjacent aft the judge's warning, Garcia tried again. The justice rapidly ordered the assemblage retired of the courtroom and told the witnesser she indispensable archer the truth. Garcia crossed her arms.

"If you don't retrieve - If you honestly don't remember, you tin accidental you don't remember," Judge Conklin said. "So, I'm going to bid you to reply the question. If you garbage to reply the question, I'm going to remand you. I'm going to clasp you successful contempt."

When the assemblage returned, Garcia stopped pleading the 5th and had a caller answer.

"I don't remember," she said much than a twelve times.

"You don't retrieve if your representation would've been caller connected the time of the incident?" 1 of the defence attorneys said. "I don't remember."

The assemblage heard different testimony, including from the antheral who performed the victim's autopsy. The proceedings volition proceed Monday.

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