Stanton Murder Trial Underway In Sonora
Sonora, CA — The David Roy Stanton murder trial opened in Department One of Tuolumne County Superior Court Wednesday afternoon at 1:55.
In his opening comments prosecuting Attorney Jim Newkirk from the District Attorney´s office highlighted Stanton´s obvious intent to kill 29 year old Jon Steven Flaherty on August 25th.
In his opening comments to the jury, Defense Attorney Rick Angermiller pointed out Flaherty´s history of and propensity for violence, and he added that the killing was in self defense after Flaherty had choked Stanton’s sister, Shawna, and then went to a vehicle to obtain a weapon to shoot Stanton.
Flaherty was apparently upset because Stanton had refused to help him repair a vehicle that was to be used by his wife Uda while he, Flaherty, would be serving a jail term for child endangerment. The incident took place on property inhabited by Shirley Huff, also known as Granny, at 17939 Old Wards Ferry Rd.
Wednesday witnesses included Uta Flaherty, Jon´s wife, property resident Andrew David O´Neal, neighbor Daniel Karraker, an acquaintance of Shawna Stanton´s, John Paul Kirkland II, and Mark Quentin Millard, Shirley Huff´s son.
The second day of the trial will get underway at 8:25 this morning in Judge Eric L. DuTemple´s courtroom. The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks.
Written by Bill Johnson
