RELATED STORIES
Accident – Death – Obituary News : After a month-long trial, the case of the Nogales rancher accused of shooting a Mexican migrant has come to a close. George Alan Kelly, a 75-year-old rancher, is facing charges of second-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Cuen Buitimea and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for endangering Daniel Ramirez. The prosecution alleges that Kelly, armed with an AK-47 rifle, shot at two unarmed men, while the defense claims that law enforcement manipulated Kelly’s testimony and that the investigation was biased.
**Details of the Incident**
During the trial, the defense questioned Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway about a border tour where he mentioned a rancher shooting at migrants. Although he did not explicitly name Kelly, Hathaway confirmed he was referring to him. Retired detective Raul Rodriguez, who interviewed Ramirez, admitted that some of Ramirez’s statements were inaccurate, casting doubt on the handling of the witness’s testimony.
**Witness Testimony**
The detective defended his actions, stating that Ramirez was identified as a victim based on initial reports. When pressed by the defense on Ramirez’s mental health issues post-shooting, Rodriguez acknowledged the witness seemed unwell and nervous during the interview. Prosecutor Kimberly Hunley suggested that there could be multiple reasons for discrepancies in Ramirez’s testimony.
**Closing Statements and Deliberation**
At the end of Wednesday’s hearing, the judge announced that closing statements for the trial would commence the following day, leading to jury deliberation. The outcome of the trial hangs in the balance as the prosecution and defense present their final arguments.
**Conclusion**
The trial of George Alan Kelly has been filled with twists and turns, shedding light on the complexities of the case. As the legal proceedings draw to a close, the fate of the Nogales rancher will soon be in the hands of the jury. Stay tuned for updates on this gripping trial.
**Support Local Journalism**
For more updates on this case and other news in southern Arizona, reach out to the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republic’s coverage is made possible in part by a grant from Report for America. Help support Arizona news by making a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com..