Witness recounts talk with La Mesa murder suspect
An unwilling witness took the stand on Thursday during the capital-murder trial of Preston Strong, who is accused of the 2005 La Mesa murders, and was asked by the prosecution to recall a conversation that he had with the defendant nearly four years ago about the crimes.
The witness, whose name has been ordered withheld by the court in order to protect his safety, testified during direct examination by prosecutor John Tate of the Yuma County Attorney’s Office, that he was talking to Strong about his conviction for murdering Dr. Satinder Gill, when he asked him if he was still a suspect in the La Mesa murders.
Strong, according to the witness, responded by saying that he was, but he would never be convicted for it because he had been careful not to leave any evidence.
Initially he said he thought Strong might have been joking, but added that when he stared back at him expressionless, waiting to see what his reaction would be, the witness said he then knew that he was serious.
The defense had filed a motion to preclude the witness’ testimony, so the attorneys spent much of the morning giving oral argument on the matter.
“This is an important piece of the case,” Tate said.
Superior Court Judge Maria Elena Cruz, who is presiding over the case, ultimately, however, ruled in favor of the prosecution and allowed the witness to testify.
Strong, who is represented by attorney Ray Hanna of Prescott and William Fox of the Yuma County Public Defenders Office, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder, one count of armed robbery and one count of burglary in the murders, in which two adults and four children were killed.
He faces a potential death sentence if convicted. He is also currently serving two life-term sentences with no chance for parole for the 2007 murder of Yuma physician Satinder Gill.