Jaraa'idJaraa'id
Notification Show More
Latest News
Jay Powell and Janet Yellen struggle to calm nerves in banking crisis
Business
Next Tottenham Hotspur manager: Mauricio Pochettino to return? Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique?
Sports
Air India boss hails biggest turnround effort in airline’s history
Business
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham by mutual consent, Cristian Stellini to take charge of team for rest of season
Sports
European ammunition maker says plant expansion hit by energy-guzzling TikTok site
Business
Aa
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Africa
  • United States
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Live Score
  • More
    • Business
    • Market Data
      • Stocks
      • Commodities
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Forex
    • Weather
Reading: California man gets 25 years to life for 1996 murder of student Kristin Smart
Share
Aa
Jaraa'idJaraa'id
  • Somalia
  • Africa
  • United States
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Videos
  • World
    • Africa
    • United States
    • Europe
    • Asia
  • Market Data
    • Stocks
    • Commodities
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Forex
  • More
    • Sports
    • Business
    • Weather
    • Live Score
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Jaraa'id > United States > California man gets 25 years to life for 1996 murder of student Kristin Smart
United States

California man gets 25 years to life for 1996 murder of student Kristin Smart

News Room
Last updated: 2023/03/11 at 11:52 AM
News Room Published March 11, 2023
Share
SHARE

March 10 (Reuters) – More than a quarter-century after college freshman Kristin Smart vanished in what became one of California’s most notorious unsolved crimes, the man ultimately convicted of killing her was sentenced on Friday to serve 25 years to life in prison.

The prison term imposed on Smart’s one-time classmate, Paul Flores, the maximum sentence under California’s current penal system, was announced by the San Luis Obispo County district attorney in a statement.

“Today, our criminal and victim justice system has finally delivered justice for Kristin Smart,” District Attorney Dan Dow wrote.

Flores, 46, was found guilty by a 12-member jury in Monterey County Superior Court in October 2022 at the end of a three-month trial. He was arrested and charged with Smart’s death in April 2021.

A separate jury acquitted the defendant’s father, Ruben Flores, who was accused of helping to hide Smart’s body, of being an accessory to murder after the fact.

Smart was 19 when she went missing on May 25, 1996, from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, about 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Los Angeles. She had last been seen returning to her dormitory from an off-campus party at about 2 a.m.

Prosecutors accused Flores of killing her during a rape or attempted rape. Smart’s remains have never been found, although investigators said they have searched 18 locations for her body.

For many years the leading suspect in Smart’s disappearance, Flores had told investigators he left the same gathering with Smart but parted company with her about a block from her dorm.

New evidence and witnesses uncovered by freelance journalist Chris Lambert’s 2019 documentary podcast, “Your Own Backyard,” helped investigators crack the case, according to prosecutors and Sheriff Ian Parkinson.

In response to delays in the investigation of the case, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring colleges and universities to share information more quickly about missing students with off-campus police.

After Flores’ October conviction, Sheriff Parkinson vowed that the case would remain open until Smart’s remains are found and returned to her family.

Before pronouncing sentence, Judge Jennifer O’Keefe said Flores had continued to drug and assault women in “predatory behavior” that “has spanned your adult life,” according to an account of the proceedings published by the San Luis Obispo Tribune newspaper.

“You deserve to spend every day you have left behind bars,” she was quoted as saying.

Addressing the court for the prosecution, Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle called the defendant a “true psychopath,” adding that while Flores maintains his innocence, “we know he lies,” the Tribune reported.

Defense lawyer Robert Sanger, whose motion for a new trial was denied at the start of the hearing, declined to give a final statement on behalf of his client before sentencing, according to the Tribune.

“This is a parent’s worst nightmare – the disappearance and death of their child,” the slain student’s father, Stan Smart said during the hearing.

Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler, Grant McCool and Raju Gopalakrishnan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read the full article here

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
I have read and agree to the terms & conditions
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
News Room March 11, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular News
Business

Jay Powell and Janet Yellen struggle to calm nerves in banking crisis

News Room News Room March 26, 2023
Next Tottenham Hotspur manager: Mauricio Pochettino to return? Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique?
Air India boss hails biggest turnround effort in airline’s history
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham by mutual consent, Cristian Stellini to take charge of team for rest of season
European ammunition maker says plant expansion hit by energy-guzzling TikTok site
Robin van Persie tipping ‘champion team’ Arsenal to end 19-year wait and win Premier League
Netanyahu sacks defence minister over refusal to back judicial reform
Miami Open 2023: Bianca Andreescu marches on with win over Sofia Kenin, Belinda Bencic becomes latest big name to fall
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You Might also Like

United States

Actor Jonathan Majors arrested in New York on assault charges

March 26, 2023
United States

US lawmaker says FBI briefed him on Trump’s rhetoric over New York probe

March 26, 2023
United States

Rep. Ro Khanna endorses Rep. Barbara Lee in Senate race in California

March 26, 2023
United States

US House speaker says lawmakers to move forward with TikTok bill

March 26, 2023
  • Somalia
  • Africa
  • United States
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Forex
  • Stock Market

About US

Jaraa'id is your one-stop website for the latest global and local news and updates, follow us now to get the news that matters to you.
Quick Link
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press ReleaseSubmit
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Top Sections
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Market DataLive
  • Weather

Subscribe US

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our Latest articles instantly!

I have read and agree to the terms & conditions

2023 © Jaraa'id. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?