A judge left the courtroom stunned when he suddenly stormed out of the trial for an Arizona rancher accused of shooting a migrant on his property.
The judge was reportedly irked that the case of an Arizona rancher accused of killing an illegal immigrant is taking longer than he wanted.
75-year-old George Alan Kelly is on trial for a second-degree murder charge in connection with the shooting death of an illegal alien last year.
Judge Thomas Fink left the courtroom after venting his frustration over the pace of the trial.
He then cut back the time the defense has to question a witness, according to Newsweek.
“I’m gonna start imposing time limits in this case on direct and cross-examinations,” Fink said after being notified of defense witnesses who have yet to be called.
“When we discussed this case, and leading up to this case and during the trial, counsel informed me, advised me, that this case would take three weeks.”
“Today is three weeks,” Fink added.
“We started on March 21.
“Today is three weeks, and the state’s still in its case.”
WATCH:
Arizona Judge Thomas Fink “walked out” in the middle of court proceeding, deferring to the clerk and court reporter leaving everyone shocked! The Judge has accused both the defense and the prosecution of unnecessarily dragging out the oral arguments.
George Alan Kelly is accused… pic.twitter.com/3D7MCc3hcN
— Veterans For Kari (@VeteransforKari) April 12, 2024
Fink said he has been looking for ways to “exercise any authority over the pace of the case.”
“Clearly, we are behind schedule,” Fink said.
“This case is going to go to the jury next week.
“It’s going to go to the jury next Thursday.
“And I’m gonna move this case so that happens.”
Before the defense could resume its cross-examination of Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Det. Mario Barba, Fink imposed a limit on questioning, according to KOLD-TV.
“Call the witness to the stand,” he said.
“We’re not going to question the witness anymore on this particular point.
“You have five more minutes with this witness on cross-examination.”
“Judge, I have to object,” defense attorney Breanna Larkin said.
“This witness is very crucial to the defense.”
Disgraceful prosecution against an innocent man https://t.co/bGkrkKSlN0
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) April 5, 2024
“I’ve never been limited to just five minutes on cross-examination and this witness testified to all sorts of involvement in this case,” she said.
“This is one of the defense’s main witnesses that we have to get to.
“Judge, limiting me to five minutes of cross-examination with this witness limits Mr. Kelly’s constitutional rights,” she said.
“Now it’s four minutes. Call the witness,” Fink replied.
Shortly after that, he stormed out of the courtroom.
Also on Thursday, jurors went to Kelly’s ranch to observe the scene where the shooting took place, according to WTXF-TV.
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