BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Deliberations will start over in the trial of three Bakersfield men accused of killing a Long Beach man in an alleged drug deal-turned-robbery after a juror indicated he had to leave and wouldn’t be able to return for over a week.
Judge Eric Bradshaw thanked that juror for his time and said an alternate juror will take his place.
The jury will start deliberating anew Monday morning.
On trial are Garret Cole, Juan Carlos Toscano and Javier Ontiveros, each charged with murder and other crimes in the death of Tyler Poulin, whose corpse was found buried in Arizona.
In September 2022, Poulin and friend Edwin Menendez drove from Long Beach to Bakersfield to buy the drug Lean, a prosecutor said.
When Poulin and Menendez entered a house on Real Road to conduct the deal, Cole and Toscano drew guns and Poulin was shot in the head during a struggle on the ground, according to the prosecutor.
Menendez escaped, and Cole, Ontiveros and two other men allegedly drove to Arizona with Poulin’s body in a van. Toscano stayed behind and cleaned the scene, a prosecutor said.
The burial site was found Oct. 6, 2022.
The defense has argued Poulin pulled a gun first and tried to rob the defendants, then was shot during a struggle.
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