By Madeleine Gallay
The case against Kevin Slaton concluded on Thursday with closing arguments which continued into the afternoon.
Deputy Public Defender Peter Borruso’s final argument pulled together witness testimonies and facts in an effort to show that Mr. Slaton is not, in fact, a drug dealer. He began by showing the jury that Slaton had a job that paid $28 an hour, enough to let him buy drugs.
Mr. Borruso also mentioned, “It is beyond a reasonable doubt that Slaton possessed meth…but nobody knows what is going to happen next.” Mr. Slaton had enough methamphetamine to last more then a day, but the police only found him in a van on the side of the road, with no indication of selling the drug.
Mr. Slaton had at least seven grams, if not more, of methamphetamine in his van. As Dr. Siggins had mentioned before, it is possible for an individual to use that much in one day. Accordingly, this shows that it is possible for him to be just an addict and to be innocent of dealing.
Deputy District Attorney Kyle Hasapes began with the following statement, “Everything in life is subject to some kind of doubt.” A story then followed about a fisherman who walks up to a pond where he could clearly see a sign that says no fishing. Despite this warning he hooks a worm on the end of his fishing pole and casts it into the pond. The police arrive, and the fisherman tells them he is just giving the worm a bath.
Mr. Hasapes then began to mention the falsities of Dr. Siggins’ testimony. He compared him with a previous witness Agent Austin, a CHP officer who is also on the narcotics enforcement team, and has been undercover five times.
Mr. Austin had testified that it is only possible to take 0.1 grams of meth in a day, whereas Dr. Siggins said it was possible to take 7 grams in one day. Dr. Siggins also didn’t know the street terms such as a “hit” or an “eight ball,” and testified that it was possible to smoke meth and cocaine in the same pipe – which Mr. Austin had testified would be incredibly dangerous.
Multiple witnesses have also testified about the physical effects of addiction, such as decayed teeth, bags under their eyes and stress to the heart. Ms. Plum, who is a union employer and Mr. Slaton’s job reference, testified that he looks the same as he did when he was working back in April.
This wrapped up the closing arguments for the People v. Slaton trial. Now we wait for the verdict.
