Modesto murder trial continues Monday, possibly with defendants’ testimony

There was no testimony Thursday in a trial for three defendants accused of murder in a Modesto park stabbing.

Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Dawna Reeves on Thursday asked the jury to return to court Monday. The judge told the attorneys that it’s possible testimony could come to an end early next week.

Jacob Segura, Taylor Koplen and Juan Garcia face charges of murder in Tylor Crippen’s stabbing at Creekwood Park. The deadly attack occurred on the night of Jan.29, 2013, at the park, a few blocks west of Claus Road in east Modesto.

There’s still a chance Segura and Garcia will testify in the trial Monday, but they have the weekend to make that decision. Defendants are not required to testify in their own trials.

Mark Sullivan, Segura’s attorney, on Thursday was preparing to file an appeal by the end of the week. Sullivan is seeking an appellate court decision to overturn a ruling from Judge Reeves.

The local judge decided to exclude a psychiatrist’s testimony about a claimed false confession Segura gave police investigators shortly after the fatal stabbing.

If the appellate court decides to review the testimony ruling, it could order the trial to stop until it makes a decision.

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Modesto murder trial continues Monday, possibly with defendants’ testimony."