FBI agent, accused statements in the election crime for hate crime

Denver – Both the public prosecutor and the defense interpreted their case on Thursday in the trial against Ashley Blackcloud and Derrick Bernard Jr.

The test on Thursday included statements by the primary FBI specialist agent who examined the case of the Ethan Doherty case. Derrick Bernard also decided to take the stand in his own defense.

Blackcloud's lawyer initially submitted seven witnesses to say, including the chief of police at Colorado Springs, Adrian Vasquez,. During the court proceedings on Thursday, Britta Cobb, the lawyer of Blackcloud, called on none of these witnesses. When asked, she said that they had organized the case.

The prosecutors argue that Bernard and Blackcloud are part of a conspiracy to staged a hate crime in one of the then campaign signs from Yemi Mobolade in April 2023 before the departure elections in April 2023. The investigators say that a racist slur was painted on the sign and a wooden cross in front of it was set up and set on fire. A video of the burning cross was later sent to local media and civil servants.

Doherty's testimony also highlighted some discussions by Mayor Yemi Mobolades with investigators who led to the indictment against Blackcloud, Bernard and Deanna West, who were guilty in March.

According to Doherty, Mobolade was involved in joke after an interview in January 2024. The FBI agent said that the investigators had no good understanding of Mobolade and Bernard's relationship.

In interviews with the FBI, Doherty said that Mobolade was “nervous” and “emotional” when he told the events of the incident. Doherty said Mobolade said he was “120% sure” that he had no call to Bernard, although the FBI had records that showed that he did it.

Doherty later said that the investigators discovered that Mobolade had received a “considerable” volume of calls and news during this time when he fought for the mayor. The FBI agent later stated that he did not come to a conclusion whether the mayor intentionally deceived it or not.

Blackcloud decided not to testify the jury. Bernard came up and answered numerous questions.

Bernard said that he initially did not take Mobolade seriously as a candidate, but state representative Regina English introduced him and said when she “signed him together, he took him seriously.”

Bernard got Mobolades surname wrong several times in his certificate, but said they were close and claimed that during a phone call he would not be “guaranteed” to be pursued by Mobolade after April 2023.

Bernard made many claims about people working for English who were involved in the incident. He also told the jury that he was advised that he should not testify in that case. He also claimed that West, who is guilty, “terrorized to complete a deal”.

During his intersection, Bernard claimed that he only found out after the happened. In his certificate with his lawyer, he said that the incident was “a strategic step to ensure him [Mobolade] was chosen ”.

During the entire intersection, Bernard became defensive at one point at one point and asked the prosecutor: “Why do you act silly and boring?” And later asked: “Did you do your research, do you know who I am?”

At some point Bernard said that he no longer wanted to speak to the prosecutor. The judge reminded him that he had to answer the public prosecutor's questions because he had decided.

Bernard is currently serving a lifelong prison sentence without the possibility of probation in a case in which he ordered the murder of William Underwood, a local rapper.

The public prosecutor's office was only allowed to appeal that he was convicted of crime and is currently serving a prison sentence of more than 10 years.

The final arguments are expected to take place on Friday morning and then the case will be in the hands of the jury.

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