ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Jurors in the trial of a man accused of killing two individuals in April 2019 in Seward County began deliberations Friday afternoon, and shortly before 3:30 p.m. Monday, they returned with a verdict of not guilty on all counts.
Pablo Ramon Ramirez was charged with multiple counts, including first-degree murder, in the deaths of Timothy J. Martin and Erick G. Salas.
Ramon Ramirez also faced two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and one count of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied building.
Prior to Monday’s verdict, Friday, Ramon Ramirez’s attorney, Luci Douglass, and prosecutor Russell Hasenbank heard from some final witnesses, including two who had testified earlier, Kansas Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Jason LaRue and Trung Phan.
Jurors were also shown a video of an interview between Hasenbank, LaRue, Ralph Salas Jr. and his attorney, Derek Miller. Salas Jr. was convicted in 2022 for the deaths of Martin and Erick. Ralph and Erick were not related, according to a 2022 release from the KBI. Ralph had testified earlier in the recent trial against Ramon Ramirez.
Shortly before noon Friday, jurors were given instructions for their deliberations, and upon returning from lunch, Hasenbank and Douglass made their closing statements in the case.
In his statement, Hasenbank said evidence from the scene and testimony throughout the trial showed everyone involved had more than just mere associations with each other.
He likewise said some of the testimony showed Ramon Ramirez had done the pistol whipping Ralph had previously testified to in the case.
Hasenbank cautioned jurors to look at statements from witnesses with caution, as he saw they were consistent with each other. He added that does not mean the statements were identical, but for him, too many pieces matched up to make a consistent story.
In her statement, Douglass reminded jurors the burden of proof the state was responsible for, saying Hasenbank needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Ramon Ramirez was part of a conspiracy.
Douglass also noted inconsistencies in testimony, saying some witnesses had axes to grind. She did say, however, the case was about two dead bodies, one distinguishable fingerprint and one clear set of footprints at the feet of Martin, which she claimed belonged to Ralph.
Hasenbank made a second statement, and he said when all of the evidence and testimony was put together, jurors had everything they needed to return a guilty verdict.
