[Watch coverage of the trial on the LawNewz Network with in-studio analysis in the player above. For a raw feed of just this trial, see the player below this article.]
The trial of Henry Segura continues Tuesday in Leon County, Florida. Segura is charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his girlfriend, Brandi Peters, their 3-year-old child JaVante Segura, and her twin 6-year-old daughters who were not his, Tamiyah and Taniyah Peters. Peters was found dead, beaten and shot on November 20, 2010, with one child also shot and the others drowned. If convicted, Segura could get the death penalty.
Prosecutors say that Segura committed the crimes because he owed child support payments. He allegedly told his ex-girlfriend before the killings that he needed a gun. The defense, on the other hand, claim that authorities got the wrong guy. They say other people’s DNA were found at the scene, including that of Angel Avila-Quinones, a possible suspect. Another man, James Carlos Santos, said he had ordered the killings from prison because Peters had allegedly stolen from a Mexican drug cartel.
But now Santos says he won’t tell his story to the jury.
#SeguraTrial – James Santos, inmate who claims HE hired the hit on Brandi Peters, will now plead the 5th according to his attorney.
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
Rebecca Cueves was first on the stand Monday. She was a forensic specialist with the Tallahassee Police Department during the time of the murders, and testified to finding bloody clothes at a park six days after the killings.
#SeguraTrial – Shirt with blood stains found at park. pic.twitter.com/EDeYhA2JVo
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
Jo Ellen Brown, who was a senior crime laboratory analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, testified after Cueves.
#SeguraTrial – DNA specialist: NO definitive match to Henry Segura in everything she analyzed. pic.twitter.com/FJm3cedHTx
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
And a familiar face returned to the stand.
#SeguraTrial – Lead investigator Mark Lewis returns to the stand. Jury will now watch Segura’s interview. https://t.co/FFHEZsbMzd pic.twitter.com/rl5leKX12m
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
He went through how investigators interviewed witnesses and the like.
#SeguraTrial – In interview police note scratches Segura has.When asked to take pics of him, “I don’t want this used against me or anything” pic.twitter.com/a3z4VFQUtO
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
#SeguraTrial – Jury shown photos of 2 scratches on Henry Segura’s arms taken the day after murders. pic.twitter.com/tqhtJCvX5v
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
The prosecution ended Monday by trying hard to establish the alleged motive. Vance Wiggins, the service center manager of the Florida Dept. of Revenue’s child support program, helped them show that Segura owed quote a bit of money.
#SeguraTrial – Child support worker reading the Order. $744.47 month, back order 20K. State says this is motive. pic.twitter.com/OsZ9V2AcIf
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
#SeguraTrial – 1 month before the murders this letter, stating back child support due, was sent to the defendant. pic.twitter.com/SrhhralG0b
— LawNewz Network (@LawNewzNetwork) August 7, 2017
Stay with LawNewz.com and the LawNewz Network for continuing coverage of the case.
[Screengrab via LawNewz Network]
