Jury selection is underway in the trial of the man accused in the 1996 murder of a Central Coast college student. Paul Flores is accused of killing Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Kristen Smart in May of 1996.
He was a classmate of Smart’s. He walked her back to campus after a party. But, prosecutors say Flores attacked and killed her in his dorm room.
Detectives considered Flores a suspect for decades, but it took until last year before prosecutors felt there was enough evidence to make an arrest. His father, Ruben Flores, is also on trial. He’s accused of being an accessory to the murder. Her remains still haven’t been recovered.
The case was moved to Salinas because of concerns that pretrial publicity would make it hard to select an impartial jury in San Luis Obispo. 1,500 Monterey County residents have received jury summons for what will be separate trials for the son and father.
