Witness Cross-Exam Continues in U-Haul Murder Trial

UPDATE 1/16/15 1:10 P.M.

As the trial of six men accused of murder continues, defense attorneys cross-examined the first witness to the events that led to the death of Anthony Ibarra.

The witness’ name has not been released as she is under witness protection, but she testified this week she was inside her home on West Donovan Road in Santa Maria on March 17, 2013 and heard what she said were the final, desperate moments of Anthony Ibarra’s life before he was allegedly tortured and beaten to death by some or all of the defendants over unpaid drug debts.

On Friday, defense lawyers spent the morning questioning her about inconsistencies in her testimony.

The trial is expected to last a few more weeks.

UPDATE 1/15/15:

Day three of the ongoing Anthony Ibarra murder trial in Santa Maria brought a surprise challenge from the defense attorneys for the six defendants on trial.

They tried to get the powerful testimony from the prosecution’s first key witness thrown out over her admitted drug use.

KCOY 12 Central Coast News is not identifying the witness by name or face..

The woman testified she was high on methamphetamine before, during and after Ibarra’s murder.

She also revealed from the witness stand that she was using the drug before and during her testimony before the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury that handed down murder indictments against the six defendants now on trial.

Defense attorneys argued to the judge that if the prosecution knew about the woman’s drug use during the Grand Jury proceedings, it should have been made known then to all of them before the trial began under the so-called “Brady Rule,” which applies to any exculpatory evidence, or evidence that can benefit the accused.

The prosecution argued the first they heard about the woman’s drug use during the Grand Jury proceedings was when she revealed it this week on the witness stand during the trial.

“My position, at least would be, that is not sufficient”, argued defense attorney Addison Steele on behalf of his client and defendant Anthony Solis, “I understand we are all officers of the court, this is to the degree that the court needs to conduct a hearing and put people under oath and conduct a full and exhaustive hearing.”

Judge Rick Brown asked another county deputy District Attorney to come in and conduct the hearing in the middle of the proceedings, with lead prosecutor Ann Bramsen out of the courtroom in case she was called as a witness.

Lead investigators and detectives in the Ibarra homicide case were questioned about what they knew about the key witness’ drug use and when they knew it about.

The judge then denied the motion to suppress or exclude the testimony from the woman under the Brady Rule and the woman was allowed to continue her cross-examination by defense attorneys.