Overview

• Flores’ attorney argued the 2022 Monterey County trial was tainted by an emotional juror who should have been removed for misconduct.
• The defense challenged testimony about alleged uncharged sexual encounters as prejudicial and irrelevant to the murder case.
• Counsel also attacked the felony-murder pathway tied to an alleged attempted rape of an intoxicated person and asked for a reduction to second-degree murder.
• The prosecution countered that juror emotion is common in graphic cases and maintained the contested testimony was admissible and relevant.
• The hearing took place in Ventura County with counsel appearing via Zoom, Flores remained at Corcoran State Prison, and the court has up to 90 days to issue its decision.