KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting says he’s ready to go to trial against mass-shooting suspect Jason Dalton, even if he won’t be able to use all of the statements Dalton made to police after his arrest.
At a Thursday hearing, Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Alexander Lipsey ruled a second interview conducted by a Michigan State Police detective is allowable because it was conducted properly. But he threw out all but small portion of the first interview done by Kalamazoo Public Safety because the detectives violated Dalton’s rights to have an attorney present.
Getting said they are satisfied with the judgement, that it was made on sound reasoning and he is confident they still have enough to give to the jury to get a conviction. He said if Dalton’s attorney, Eusebio Solis, appeals, it could delay the trial once again.
If Dalton pursues an insanity defense, the issue in the trial wouldn’t be whether he’s guilty, it will be his state of mind at the time of the killings. His demeanor in those videos could be critical to convincing the jury one way or the other.
Jury Selection is scheduled to begin in the first week in June and the trial is scheduled to begin on June 13.
