Law enforcement testify during second day of murder trial for 2021 Ashland stabbing
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man accused of fatally stabbing another man in 2021 faced his second day of a jury trial Wednesday at the Boone County Courthouse.
Robin Morales-Sanchez, 22, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action after he was accused of killing Moises Hernandez-Sanchez after stabbing him several times in the torso at an Ashland home in 2021. Morales-Sanchez is being held at the Boone County Jail.
The trial on Wednesday entered a lunch break after the morning session, during which multiple law enforcement officers testified about the scene and the investigation into the death of Hernandez-Sanchez.
David Shelby -- a detective from an Iowa state law enforcement agency and specializes in locating suspects -- and a lieutenant from the Boone County Sheriff's Office who specializes in tracking cellphone records, testified on Wednesday. They said they helped track down Morales-Sanchez after he ran away from the scene. During the trial, the lieutenant said he tracked Morales-Sanchez's girlfriend's phone pings, which led to a pizza delivery order and ultimately to the address where Morales-Sanchez was found.
DNA analyst Shena Latchman, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, testified that the patrol was assigned to analyze the DNA evidence in this homicide case. The criminalist tested the knives found in the house for blood, but found none. The crime lab then tested Morales-Sanchez's search and conducted a DNA profile, which matched only Moises Hernandez-Sanchez.
Pathologist Dr. Carl Stacey said on the stand that his report on Hernandez-Sanchez revealed a total of 22 stab wounds. Stacey stated that there were no wounds on Hernandez-Sanchez's body that indicated he tried to defend himself. Additionally, Hernandez-Sanchez had an alcohol level that would likely have impaired his ability to fight back, Stacey said.
The defense called Morales-Sanchez's girlfriend at the time of the incident to testify on his behalf, despite her arrest for helping him flee to avoid a second-degree murder charge. She said Morales-Sanchez had a black eye and was bleeding when she picked him up. The defense asked Sarah Malakie why she spoke on Wednesday.
"Because I believe it's the right thing to do. Because it's the truth.  And I need to speak up and tell the truth of what I saw and what I heard and what I know," Malakie, said.
Malakie helped Morales-Sanchez escape from the scene and took him to Kansas, where he was found by law enforcement days later. Malakie is now remarried and does not keep in contact with Morales-Sanchez.
