LAKEPORT — Testimony in the trial of two men charged with killing a toddler last spring was postponed Thursday because one of the defense attorneys was sick.
Paul William Braden, 21, and Orlando Joseph Lopez Jr., 24, both of Clearlake Oaks face 15 felonies — including one murder count and five counts of attempted murder — in connection with a shooting incident in Clearlake on June 18.
Authorities allege the two men fired shotguns into a crowd of people gathered at a barbecue party, killing Skyler Rapp, 4, and injuring five others.
Braden and Lopez pleaded not guilty to all felony counts and denied dozens of special allegations. They remain in custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Both men are standing trial in the same courtroom but have different attorneys and separate juries.
Testimony began Wednesday and was set to continue Thursday at the Lake County Courthouse, but Lopez”s lawyer, Stephen Carter, was unavailable because of an illness.
The jurors sat in the courtroom for less than five minutes Thursday morning before presiding Judge Doris L. Shockley excused them for the day because of Carter”s absence.
Ashli Athas, the former girlfriend of Lopez”s brother who was set to complete her testimony Thursday, was ordered to return to court next week.
The trial will reconvene March 7 at 9 a.m. in Department 1 of the Lake County Courthouse. Trials typically take place on Fridays, but they are not in session on the first Friday of each month because of court furloughs.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
