Michael Kraynick

Michael Kraynick presided over jury selection, evidentiary disputes, and jury instructions in Sarah Boone's murder trial. He questioned prospective jurors about publicity exposure, impartiality, and service hardships, prohibited outside research and case-related communications, and explained the presumption of innocence and the State's burden of proof. On Day 4, he finalized six jurors and eight alternates after challenges; both sides accepted the panel.

Kraynick's rulings shaped how the defense could present self-defense and battered spouse evidence. On Day 3, he rejected outright exclusion of battered spouse evidence but required a foundation for expert testimony. On Day 7, he denied acquittal and maintained an overt-act prerequisite for prior-violence evidence. After Boone began testifying and counsel argued that issue, he found an overt act established and conditionally allowed prior-violence and battered spouse evidence. He also conducted a rights colloquy before Boone chose to testify. On Day 9, he denied renewed acquittal, finding that a reasonable juror could find the charged offense proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Kraynick addressed disclosure disputes without treating them as automatic grounds for excluding evidence. He allowed the defense to seek admission of late-disclosed medical records while barring proposed instruction boards, photographs, and suitcase-video playback during opening statements. During rebuttal, he found an inadvertent but substantial discovery violation concerning Tonia Werner's opinions. Owens chose cross-examination rather than striking her already-heard PTSD opinion. Kraynick permitted an immediate supervised deposition to cure discovery prejudice, declined to strike Werner, and allowed broader cross-examination.

His instructions specified how jurors could use contested recordings and digital evidence. On Day 6, he told them that detectives' statements in Boone's recorded interview supplied context for her responses, not proof that the statements were true. On Day 10, he explained that the entire State's Exhibit 21, including messages and conversations beyond the portions shown by the prosecution, would be available during deliberations. He settled instructions on lesser offenses, self-defense, and battered spouse syndrome, then instructed jurors on homicide offenses, reasonable doubt, and a unanimous verdict. He required a written request to review the bat rather than sending it directly into the jury room.

After the jury found Boone guilty of second-degree murder on Day 10, all six jurors confirmed the verdict. Kraynick adjudicated her guilty and set sentencing for December 2.