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Mendo Courts: Reynolds trial begins

    The trial for the man charged with assaulting and causing fatal injury to Laytonville-resident Kenneth Fisher began on Tuesday in Mendocino County Superior Court.

 

According to the Mendocino Voice, Charles Reynolds faces charges of felony assault and a special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury for sucker-punching Fisher in August—ultimately leading to a hemorrhage which caused his death.

 

In the courtroom, Reynolds' attorney, Justin Petersen, called the death a quote “miracle of bad luck,” and said that Fisher was agitating an on-going conflict between them earlier inside Boomers bar in Laytonville . He claimed that surveillance tape showed Reynolds was grabbed by Fisher from behind and subsequently pushed the victim off him.

 

Deputy District Attorney Luke Oakley painted another picture, saying it was no fight and the case was about quote “force and power” unquote.

 

A witness to the incident claimed he saw both men talking outside Boomers in Laytonville on the night of Aug. 28, 2016 when Reynolds surprisingly struck the victim with a blow he said was "devastatingly hard." He also testified the defendant stood over his body and then proceeded to walk away.

 

The trial is expected to go until next Tuesday or Wednesday, the news site said.