Prosecutors call first responders to the stand in “La Mesa Street Murders” trial

The “La Mesa Street Murders” trial continued in its second day after opening statements on Tuesday.

Jury members heard from emergency responders who described their experience arriving at the home of Luis Rios, Adrienne Heredia and her four children.

Paramedics say they found Rios in the backyard of the home, near the pool area. They told prosecutors Rios had his hands tied behind his back with bullet wounds to his arm, chest and the back of his head. Paramedics said his hands were bound with an alarm clock, wires and a belt and his feet were also tied together with wires.

Along with the witness accounts of first responders, the prosecution also showed pictures of Rios’ wounds.

First responders say Rios’ vital signs were quickly dissipating on the way to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

During the defense’s argument they sustained that paramedics couldn’t confirm that Preston Strong committed the killings.

“Now, the murder of six people is never something that needs to be taken lightly,” said defense attorney Bill Fox during opening statements on Tuesday. “It can’t be taken lightly, just like any other untimely death, of a group of people. But, it’s also important for us to find out who actually did it, to not be angry about it…”

The defense didn’t spend a lot of time cross examining the first responders, though they did question one of the police officer’s memory of the events on the night of the crime.

The officer had a hard time identifying the home on a satellite view of map but he did remember the home having a pool in the backyard.

If found guilty, 50-year-old Preston Strong could face the death penalty.

Trial days are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m and T hursday from 9 a.m. to noon. The trial is expected to last through Ap ril 28th .