WOODLAND, Calif. — A Yolo County judge ruled Wednesday that two men charged with murder and conspiracy in connection with a fatal 2023 West Sacramento marijuana deal will proceed toward trial, despite defense challenges to the prosecution’s cellphone evidence, allegations that prosecutors presented statements selectively and arguments that the evidence failed to establish the accused acted with reckless indifference to human life.
During the final day of the preliminary hearing Aug. 5, defense counsel also raised concerns about the prosecution’s use of a message timeline in a case previously affected by a Racial Justice Act violation and alleged a Brady violation, arguing prosecutors shared selected statements by the accused while failing to present other information to the court.
A Brady violation occurs when the prosecution hides or fails to disclose information that may help the accused…