ALAMOSA — The defense rested its case in the trial of Daniel Brandt at noon on Tuesday with the testimony of a teen who was a friend of Brandt’s and was present at the shooting incident on Oct. 27, 2022.
Although he was 15 at the time of the incident, Brandt, now 17, is being tried as an adult and is facing charges of two counts of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree with deliberation and three counts of first-degree assault in connection with his alleged involvement in the shooting of Ricardo Rangel and Alamosa Police Department Officer Mollee Heeney.
When the court went into recess around noon on Tuesday, Judge Crista Newmyer-Olsen indicated that there would be a somewhat extensive discussion between counsel around what instructions would be issued to the jury. At that time, it was anticipated that closing arguments would begin Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
As people waited outside the courtroom and online for court to be back in session, it was announced shortly before 3 p.m. that the jury had been sent home and were instructed to return to court at 8:15 Wednesday morning.
It is anticipated that closing arguments will conclude on Wednesday, at which time the case will be turned over to the jury for deliberation.
