Medford, Ore.– For a second time Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Barnack declared a mistrial in the Jose Valencia murder case.
Judge Barnack said that a witness violated stipulation by saying the word, “defendant” in regards to the murder suspect, Valencia.
Valencia is accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Maria Rodriguez to death back in September 2013 outside her Tablerock Road apartment.
Defense attorney’s, prosecutors and Judge Barnack had agreed the word “defendant”would not be used, so as not to prejudice the case.
Back in June the original trial also made a turn when jurors somehow got a hold of a list of witnesses contact information and what they would be saying in their testimony.
The new pre-trial date is set for February 9th.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.