California Attorney General Opposes Paul Flores’ Bid to Overturn Kristin Smart Murder Conviction

California Attorney General ROB BONTA has strongly opposed PAUL FLORES‘ request to overturn or reduce his convictions for the 1996 murder of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) freshman KRISTIN SMART, labeling his appeal as “meritless.” Flores, who is currently serving a 25-year-to-life sentence following his October 2022 conviction, filed a 107-page appeal claiming multiple judicial errors during his trial.

In the appeal, Flores’ defense team contended that Monterey County Superior Court Judge JENNIFER O’KEEFE abused her discretion, including allowing a potentially biased juror to remain and permitting the introduction of a controversial ball-gag photo at trial. While Flores acknowledged that no single error alone warranted reversal, he argued that the cumulative effect of these errors deprived him of a fair trial.

However, Bonta’s office dismissed these claims, stating that none of the alleged errors impacted Flores’ right to a fair trial or justified overturning his conviction. “The cumulative error argument lacks merit,” the filing asserted. “Each alleged error was harmless and properly addressed by the trial court.”

One of Flores’ primary claims centered on Juror No. 273, who the defense argued exhibited bias throughout the trial. Bonta’s office countered that Judge O’Keefe acted appropriately in retaining the juror, stating, “Substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding that Juror No. 273 had not lost her ability to remain neutral.”

Flores also contested the admission of testimonies from women who accused him of sexual misconduct, which jurors cited as pivotal in establishing a pattern of behavior. Bonta’s rebuttal emphasized that such evidence was properly admitted and relevant to the case, adding, “Appellant [Flores] was entitled to a fair trial, not a perfect one.”

Meanwhile, TREVOR BOELTER, one of the last people to see Smart alive, is urging Flores to reveal the location of her remains. “Paul Flores needs to come clean and tell the Smart family where Kristin’s body is located,” Boelter told DailyMail.com. Smart’s remains have never been found, though she was declared legally dead in 2002.

PAUL FLORES, now 48, was convicted of Smart’s first-degree murder after prosecutors alleged he killed her during an attempted rape in his dorm room and disposed of her body. His appeals must conclude before he faces the prospect of life imprisonment without parole, a sentence that critics argue underscores the necessity of his confession to provide closure to the Smart family.

Flores is expected to respond to the Attorney General’s brief by May 5, as the legal battle continues.

**Sources:**
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[DailyMail.com](Insert URL)
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