Walmart defense team makes new motions alleging misconduct

EL PASO ( KTSM ) — The defense team for the Walmart shooter has filed two new motions, in a bid to further their claims that the District Attorney’s Office has withheld evidence from them.

The team defending Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius is asking District Court Judge Sam Medrano to apply sanctions against the prosecution because of more than 270 alleged violations of Crusius’ rights, KTSM has learned through court documents.

Crusius murdered 23 people on Aug. 3, 2019 when he opened fire at the Cielo Vista Walmart store in El Paso and wounded more than 20 others. He pleaded guilty to federal charges in July 2023 and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms.

The State’s case is seeking the death penalty for Crusius.

As we previously reported, the defense team filed several motions last month arguing the prosection intercepted 15 phone calls, recorded by the El Paso Jail, between defense lawyers and Crusius.

The calls were made from August 2020 through early January 2021.

The defense team is asking Medrano to recognize what they are calling “misconduct” by the prosecution and they are asking for a special master to oversee discovery compliance — someone who will oversee documents as they are uncovered by either side in the case.

This is on top of filings made earlier in which the defense is alleging that prosecutors have been withholding evidence that might benefit their client.

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31. We have reached out to the District Attorney’s Office for comment on the latest developments.

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