Why a juror in the Kristin Smart murder case was focus of killer’s appeal

The man convicted of killing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart lost another bid to have his conviction overturned or reduced to second-degree murder.

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A three-judge appellate panel on Oct. 24 released a decision on Paul Flores’ second appeal since he was found guilty of killing Smart, whose body has never been found. She was last seen on May 25, 1996, walking with Flores toward her dormitory on the San Luis Obispo campus after a party.

The arguments presented at a hearing this month raised six objections to the way the 2022 trial was conducted, leading with the judge’s refusal to dismiss a particular juror.

Flores’ attorneys said four incidents warranted the juror’s removal:

• She spoke privately to the judge about feeling “anxiety” and “tension” while listening to cross-