Testimony begins in murder trial over Palm Springs senior citizen’s slaying
Jason William Brokken, 52, is accused of killing Kenneth R. Moody on Jan. 21, 2012. Moody’s body was found inside a garbage bag the next day on the side of Rudderow Lane, a dirt road south of Dillon Road.
News Channel 3’s Jake Ingrassia was in court today for the opening testimonies. You can follow his live tweets below:
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074718617348915200″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;In Indio court this morning covering opening statements in the trial of Jason William Brokken, 52, who’s accused of killing Palm Springs resident Kenneth R. Moody on Jan. 21, 2012 with a sharp object. Moody’s body was found the next day on the side of a road in Sky Valley. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/IHVv7CcjkE”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/IHVv7CcjkE&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074718617348915200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074721210917838848″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Prosecutor addresses the jury with opening statement. He says actions speak louder than words, describing the conditions under which Moody’s body was found – his face smashed in with a hatchet, unrecognizable. &#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;Brokken is seen on the left. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/qfflBOUJS1″&#gt;pic.twitter.com/qfflBOUJS1&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074721210917838848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074721964583923713″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Prosecutor says a witness will tell the jury how they saw Brokken with a hatchet in Moody’s home the day he was killed, asking for towels. &#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;Investigators found Brokken’s van with blood inside, prosecutor says.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074721964583923713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074723192797782016″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Brokken’s attorney addresses the jury saying, he who states his case first seems right – until you hear all the evidence. &#lt;br&#gt;He says there was no one witnessed the murder and Brokken is not guilty as charged. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/8fK2lFB8st”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/8fK2lFB8st&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074723192797782016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074723560067715079″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Defense atty says Brokken had many positive plans in the works when he moved to the valley in 2012 – going to college at CSUSB Palm Desert, getting a job, etc.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074723560067715079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074725978851573760″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Defense calls first witness, a Sky Valley resident. She testifies there are not many homes in her area and several vacant lots. &#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;She says it was an alarming day when she found a body in Jan 2012 while horseback riding.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074725978851573760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074727175637454848″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Witness testifies sleeping bags were littered off to the side of the road. She says it was new trash and her dog was sniffing it when she saw black lingerie and a wig in a bush.&#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;She called her husband because she could tell there was a wrapped up dead body, then called police.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074727175637454848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074727765989937152″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Investigator Jose Villasenor, deputy sheriff with Riverside County, called to the stand. &#lt;br&#gt;He was the first law enforcement officer to arrive to the scene of the body discovered in Sky Valley.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074727765989937152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074728692654387200″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;He testifies there were drag marks into the desert land, consistent with a suitcase or trash bag being dragged from the road.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074728692654387200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074729578357112832″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Forensic evidence technician called to the stand.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074729578357112832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074731252547125248″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;She saw a body dumped there along with miscellaneous trash items. &#lt;br&#gt;&#lt;br&#gt;The court begins presenting the photographs she took of the evidence at the crime scene.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074731252547125248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074739866842198016″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Court presents first photograph of the body at the crime scene.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074739866842198016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074741760205643776″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Photos show blanket possibly showing blood. Forensic technician’s job is just to photograph it, not to determine if it is or isn’t blood.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074741760205643776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074746739003875329″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;Crime scene photographs show a computer case with brown substance the forensic evidence technician documented as feces.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074746739003875329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074748523160031232″,”author_name”:”Jake Ingrassia”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;More body photos. The murdered victim is shown in trash bags, clothed and curled up in a fetal position. &#lt;br&#gt;His face is shown, battered and bloodied. Some of the jury members wince at the graphic image.&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jake Ingrassia (@JakeKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JakeKESQ/status/1074748523160031232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;December 17, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
Watch News Channel 3 at 5 p.m. for a full report on what happened in court today.
A prosecutor said Brokken murdered a 74-year-old Palm Springs resident by driving a hatchet into his head seven times, but a defense attorney claimed his client was drugged and sexually assaulted by the senior citizen and acted in self-defense.
Brokken, who reportedly moved to Palm Springs from the Santa Barbara area just weeks prior to Moody’s death, is charged with murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a weapon in the killing.
Police and prosecutors allege that Brokken, who was temporarily staying at a residence near Moody’s, visited the victim at his home on Gem Drive and asked if he could use Moody’s shower, then killed him in his bedroom.
When Moody’s body was found, investigators found a phone bill leading them to his residence, where they found clothing stained with blood and “DNA blood evidence” in and around Brokken’s van, all of which allegedly matched Moody’s, according to the prosecution.
Deputy District Attorney Antonio Fimbres said the defendant made statements to police, in which he initially denied owning the van and said that he got along well with Moody.
“At the end of this case, I want you to look at Jason Brokken’s actions, because his words to police, when asked about this case, was that `I have no problem with Ken Moody. I have no beef with Ken Moody,”’ Fimbres said. “But his actions tell you different. The evidence will tell you different.”
Brokken’s attorney, Cameron Quinn, said that Brokken did like Moody, as he told investigators, and had recently moved to the Coachella Valley with the prospects of a new job and school at CSUSB’s Palm Desert campus, all of which came “to a screeching halt.”
Quinn alleged that Moody drugged Brokken with ketamine and made “inappropriate sexual advances that Jason tried to resist, but was unable.” Quinn did not specify whether the alleged drugging occurred on the day Moody was killed.
“The prosecutor referred to actions. What were (Brokken’s) actions? His actions were reactions to actions initiated by Mr. Moody,” Quinn said.
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