FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Both sides have rested in the Starbucks Bandit trial.
Jurors will hear closing arguments on Monday, November13th and decide the fate of the accused – Ryan Flores, who faces prison time on the charge of assault w/a deadly weapon with great bodily injury.
The robbery took place back on July 20th at the Starbucks on Herndon by the 99 Freeway.
Fresno police say 30 year-old Flores was wearing a transformers mask, carrying what turned out ot be a fake gun but a real buck knife and demanded money.
A regular customer –58 year-old Cregg Jerri saw it going down, and smashed a chair over Flores’ back and stabbed him.
Flores has already admitted to the attempted armed robbery charge, but is saying it was self defense to the charge of assault with a deadly weapon.
During the Prosecution’s testimony, video was shown as defendant Flores and so-called Good Samaritan Cregg Jerri fought on the floor after Flores tried to rob the store.
Audio was also played of the Fresno Police detective’s interview with Flores, a day later. Flores is heard slurring his words and his speech is impaired. He tells the detective that he is still taking methadone for treatment of heroin.
Flores told the jury he was “Not completely competent at that time.” He says he had a concussion and didn’t remember stabbing Jerri, just remembers arms flailing around.
On the audio tape, he tells the detective that just before the incident that he had gotten in a fight with his girlfriend over money and needed to feed his child.
The detective saying – so you went in with the intention to rob the place..but not to hurt someone. Flores saying “God, no.”
Afterwards, KMJ spoke with Defense attorney Richard Esquival, who says Flores is not a monster.
“I hope the jury will see the truth and that is that Ryan was trying to get away, Mr. Jerri prevented him, and Mr. Jerri used quite a bit more force than was necessary in subduing Ryan, Ryan tried to get away and in that process Mr. Jerri was injured.” -Defense attorney Richard Esquival.
Flores says he was defending himself in the scuffle that left both men injured, that he grabbed a hold of a wrist and that’s when Jerri got hurt.
It’s unclear from the videotape whether Flores had surrendered at this point.
The judge said jury will have to decide what has to take place in a fight before the aggressor can turn around and claim self defense.
Flores faces up to 8 years behind bars for the charges of assault with a deadly weapon with great bodily injury, and attempted robbery with a knife.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
