Capital murder trial for slain NKC police officer to resume Thursday after pause
Just before closing arguments were set to begin Wednesday, a death in the family of a defense attorney led to a delay in the capital murder trial of Joshua Rocha, who is accused of killing North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez in July 2022.
One of Rocha’s public defenders from the state of Missouri, Delaney Catlettstout, had a sudden death in her family and had to depart from the Clay County trial.
In response, Rocha’s remaining attorney, Stephen Reynolds, filed a motion for a mistrial and a continuance, citing American Bar Association guidelines that recommend a defendant have two lawyers in a capital murder trial.
The motion was denied by Circuit Court Judge David Chamberlain, who is presiding over the trial. Chamberlain has also denied several motions for acquittal filed by Rocha’s attorneys.
In a trial anticipated to last two weeks, closing arguments are expected on Thursday, following the presentation of evidence by both sides over two days to a jury from St. Charles County, Missouri.
Clay County prosecutors, led by prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson, presented their case by calling 16 witnesses to the stand and showing dash cam footage of Rocha shooting Vasquez three times during a traffic stop on July 19, 2022, as well as video of Rocha’s interview with investigators after turning himself in later that day.
Only two witnesses spoke on behalf of Rocha’s defense. One of those witnesses was Emily Ridout, who described Rocha as an influential person in her life.
