You're listening to a special bonus series of the your own backyard podcast titled people versus Flores, a weekly recap of the murder trial of Paul and Ruben Flores.
Since filming and audio recording aren't currently allowed inside the courtroom, these episodes will recount handwritten notes taken by host Chris Lambert, breaking from our typical documentary format in an effort to get updates out as regularly and succinctly as possible.
These recaps will likely contain subject matter that may be graphic and disturbing to some listeners.
Listener discretion is advised.
Monday, August 29 began with a false start.
After all of the jurors were seated and the smart family was waiting, Bailiff suddenly announced that everyone needed to leave the courtroom.
The jurors filed back into the hallway, and the family returned to the victim witness room.
The proceeding eventually started at 09:40 a.m.
a, 50 minutes delay, which was never addressed.
Deputy da Christopher Perel called ed to the stand.
Ed built Ruben Flores house on a two acre parcel he purchased in 1990 and split into two lots of Ed built both houses on the street and even built the road that forms the cul de sac.
Reuben and Susan Flores, who were still living in Torrance at the time, agreed to buy the future house before it had even been built, and the project was completed in August of 1991.
Ed is in his late seventies now and used a walker to get up to the witness stand, but he's sharp and witty.
After asking him to identify a picture of the house he built, Pavrel asked, may I please have the photo back?
Ed dryly deadpanned, no.
Everyone in the courtroom laughed.
Ed was the general contractor on the project and did as much of the work as he could on his own to save money, including building the foundation and framing as well as building the deck.
In the course of the six month project, Ed testified that nobody present suffered any injuries that caused bleeding, and no human bodies were found on the property.
To cover his bases, Pavrel asked if any primate or ferret bodies were found.
Ed said no.