Trial set for 2 suspected of killing 5-year-old boy
The trial date for two men suspected of the 2017 killing of 5-year-old Kason Guyton was confirmed Thursday in Kern County Superior Court — but the proceedings could be delayed as one of the defense attorneys works on a case in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Knight, 34, is charged with four counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle, assault with a semi-automatic weapon on a person, two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of carrying a loaded firearm in public as a member of a criminal street gang and one count of participating in a street gang.
Jeremy King, 32, is suspected of three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle, one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a person, one count of possessing a firearm as a felon and one count of carrying a loaded firearm in public as a member of a criminal street gang.
During Thursday’s hearing, King’s attorney, Andrew Flier from Levine, Flier and Flier in Encino, called into the court from Burbank, where he said he is engaged in a murder trial in Los Angeles County that he expects to take about six weeks.
Flier said during the hearing that he has been King’s lawyer for a while — despite Knight’s case switching hands with various lawyers for years. Currently, Knight is being represented by Tim Hennessy through the Indigent Defense Program.
In an interview with The Californian Thursday afternoon, Flier said the delays have been “very frustrating” due to Knight retaining new lawyers and his new lawyers needing more time to prepare.
Flier said he has tried several times to arrange for each defendant to be tried separately, but all of his requests have been denied.
Judge Eric Bradshaw confirmed the trial to begin May 13, but when Flier calls into court again that day, the attorneys can discuss new trial dates.
