TWIN FALLS -- It was day three of an evidentiary hearing for Sarah Johnson, the Blaine County woman convicted for killing her parents at their Bellevue home in 2003.
Since the crime, Johnson has maintained her innocence. She was just 16 when the murders occurred.
Johnson's attorney Christopher Simms continued his argument today that investigators overlooked key evidence and possibly suspects in the case.
Sarah Johnson arrived in a Twin Falls courtroom Thursday hoping the judge will grant her a new trial.
Simms played a video interview of Christopher Hill dating back to 2009. Hill s fingerprints matched those found on the murder weapon.
We re hoping we can explain why your fingerprints were found on some of the evidence, said the investigator on the tape.
In the video, Hill explained that he was a friend and employee of Mel Speegle, the man who owned the weapon.
Speegle was renting the Johnsons' guest house as the time of the murders.
Hill claims there was perfectly good explanationwhy his fingerprints were on the rifle.
I ll tell you your fingerprint was found on the scope of that rifle, said the investigator.
That s because I took it off and tried to sight it in, said Hill.
Simms then called his first witness to the stand, Conseulo Cedeno, the mother of Bruno Santos.
Santos and Sarah Johnson were allegedly dating at the time of the murders. Cedeno spoke to the court through a court-appointed interpreter.
Do you recall that your son was a suspect in a murder in 2003, ma am? asked Simms.
I don t remember, I don t know anything, she replied.
Cedeno claimed she didn t remember many of the events from 2003.
Do you recall telling the police that your son Bruno Santos used to lie to you all the time? asked Simms.
I don t remember anything, I don t know anything, replied Cedeno.
Simms then called Bruno Santos to the stand. At the advice of his lawyer, he asserted his 5th Amendment right to not answer many questions.
First, he was asked if Sarah Johnson was his girlfriend in the summer of 2003. Before Santos could respond, his attorney objected.
Then, he was questioned about the day after the murders of Diane and Alan Johnson.
The police told you that the day after the murders were committed they didn t believe you were guilty of the crime, didn t they? asked Simms.
And truly I m not, said Santos.
Another question that Santos did not answer was whether or not he had any gang affiliation.
Simms also called several fingerprint experts to the stand and questioned them about how they collect evidence from a crime scene. The focus was on trying to prove additional fingerprints on the murder weapon could mean there were other murder suspects.
