Whiskey River Murder Trial Defense Rests After Expert Witness Not Allowed to Testify

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Defense attorneys for Ray Vera rested and closed their case Tuesday morning but only after the trial court judge disallowed testimony from their expert witness.  

Defense attorneys Jason Sosa and Tommy Jackson called Forensic Psychologist Dr. Leana Talbott to the stand to testify for Ray Vera, the defendant on trial for murder in the stabbing death of Bryce Rudisell at Whiskey River Saloon in Oct. 2022.  

Prosecuting attorney John Best objected to her testimony, saying basically that the mental state of the defendant would be more relevant in the punishment phase of the trial and not in the guilt/innocence phase.  

After about 45 minutes of testimony and questioning Tuesday morning, Judge Dusek agreed with prosecutors not to allow Dr. Talbott to testify at this time.  

With that, defense attorneys rested and closed their case as did the state.  

The jury was dismissed and will reconvene at 1 p.m. Tuesday where Judge Dusek will read the charge, or instructions, to the jury.  After the charge is read, attorneys will proceed with closing arguments then the jury will begin deliberations.  

The courtroom is the one place where the Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution live and breathe; it is slow, it is methodical, it is intentional.  There is a process and protocol foreign to outsiders that may seem antiquated and inefficient, but it is still being refined everyday and is the best, most fair and effective justice system ever developed by man.  And because of that, juries almost always get it right.