The defense began calling its first witnesses on April 16 in the murder trial of George Alan Kelly in a courtroom in Arizona. The prosecutors had rested their case, and final arguments were expected soon, followed by jury deliberations. Kelly, accused of shooting and killing an illegal immigrant on his ranch property, claimed self-defense. Despite no evidence of the alleged intruders or weapons, Kelly was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault. The defense challenged the investigators’ narrative, suggesting a bias against Kelly. The defense called witnesses, including law enforcement officials and a sheriff, to testify about the circumstances surrounding the case. Sheriff David Hathaway also testified about his interactions with the victim’s family in Mexico. During a meeting, Mr. Hathaway testified that he was informed about an eyewitness and was already involved in the case. He asked Detective Mario Barber to volunteer for a non-enforcement action to talk to a potential witness in Mexico without carrying a gun or uniform.
When asked why he believed he needed to go to Mexico, the sheriff stated that the personal witness was crucial to the case. He confirmed hearing about witnesses named Miguel and Ramon prior to the meeting.
Mr. Hathaway described a meeting with the deceased’s family at a hotel restaurant, which he did not document initially. He later filed a report following advice from Santa Cruz County Chief Attorney Kim Hunley.
The sheriff explained that he was told about an eyewitness traveling with the victim at the time of the incident by Juan Carlos Rodriguez. He asked Detective Barba to accompany him to document the interview and create an investigative report.
During the interview, the witness expressed being an eyewitness, turning the act into an investigative one. Mr. Hathaway emphasized the importance of capturing the witness’s statement promptly due to the potential risks of witnesses disappearing or getting harmed.
While Detective Barba kept handwritten notes of the interview, Mr. Hathaway only documented a portion of it using a tape recorder. He stressed the importance of seeking the truth and ensuring that the information obtained was accurate during the trial. Please rewrite this sentence.
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