CASE BACKGROUND: A 19-year-old South Kitsap man goes on
trial today for the aggravated murder of 87-year-old Ruby Andrews
in April 2009, following almost two weeks of jury
selection.
Opening arguments are slated in the case of Daniel
James Mustard this morning.
Mustard, 17 at the time of the incident, is accused of stabbing and robbing Andrews in her Colchester home on April 5, 2009. He is being tried as an adult.
The case hinges on Mustard’s mental state at the time of the offense.
Prosecutors are slated to argue that Mustard knew right from wrong when he killed Andrews. But Bryan Hershman, Mustard’s attorney, will attempt to sway jurors that Mustard was either insane or had “diminished capacity” — that he couldn’t fully comprehend his actions — at the time of the killing.
The Kitsap Sun will carry a live blog of the opening arguments when they begin at 10:30 a.m. this morning.
