Merriman Trial Resumes After Hiatus
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The perjury and conspiracy trial of Beverlee Sue Merriman resumed in Ventura County Superior Court on Tuesday after a weeklong hiatus.
The trial, which started a month ago and is running longer than expected, was briefly postponed to allow a juror to go on vacation.
The panel had run out of alternates, and lawyers on the case agreed to take a break in testimony rather than have the judge declare a mistrial.
Merriman, a 52-year-old Ventura bookkeeper, is facing two counts of conspiracy for allegedly trying to threaten witnesses and induce false testimony on behalf of her 27-year-old son, Justin, who is facing murder charges in a separate case.
Beverlee Sue Merriman also faces one count of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury about her son’s whereabouts eight years ago.
Prosecutors allege that Justin Merriman raped and killed 20-year-old college student Katrina Montgomery in November 1992. His trial is set for Sept. 11.
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