2024 Criminal Trial

Two jury panels were screened for hardships, publicity exposure, and impartiality, leaving 11 prospective jurors in Panel 1 and 13 in Panel 2. A protective-order ruling limited the defense witness names read to the jury.

Jury selection continued with Venire Panels 3 and 4, covering qualifications, hardships, and prior publicity. The court ruled on cause challenges, including language-related excusals and two publicity-related strikes, while some individual follow-ups had no recorded disposition.

The court set conditions for battered spouse syndrome evidence, ordered interview redactions, and ruled on medical and digital exhibits while preserving trial objections. Jury selection continued with questions about impartiality, witness credibility, abuse, and self-defense, alongside stipulated juror excusals and concerns requiring further inquiry.

Six jurors and eight alternates were selected, and the jury was sworn after defense voir dire. The court also clarified self-defense evidence requirements, imposed witness-discovery conditions, and deferred the medical-record discovery hearing until the next morning.

Opening statements presented punishment and self-defense theories before prosecution witnesses described calls, arguments, a loud noise, and Boone's accounts of Torres's death. The court admitted store records, a 911 recording, body-camera recordings, photographs, and physical evidence. Cross-examination addressed recollection limits and forensic testing that was not performed.

Medical and DNA witnesses described their findings and testing limits. Jurors viewed suitcase videos and heard Sarah Boone's recorded interviews. The court limited the use of detectives' recorded statements to context for Boone's responses and denied Pearl Walker's remote-testimony request.

The State rested, the court denied judgment of acquittal, and Sarah Boone testified about the suitcase incident and alleged prior violence. Cross-examination addressed her memory, false police accounts, and failure to release Jorge Torres.

Defense witnesses described earlier injuries and police responses, while Michael Brannon explained battered spouse syndrome generally and Julie Harper offered assessment opinions about Boone. Cross-examination addressed Harper's methods and Boone's suitcase account. Phone videos were published, and no-contact orders were premarked but not admitted.

The defense rested, and the State began rebuttal with psychiatrist Tonia Werner and recordings. Werner agreed Boone had battered spouse syndrome but disputed its applicability to Boone's account of the suitcase incident. A discovery violation led to a supervised deposition; the court declined to exclude Werner or dismiss the case.

The court finalized homicide and self-defense instructions, and both sides delivered closing arguments addressing the suitcase recordings, battered spouse syndrome, and justification. Six jurors returned a guilty verdict for second-degree murder. The court adjudicated Sarah Boone guilty and scheduled sentencing for December 2.