Day three of the Jacob Sims murder case brings the seventh witness to stand
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - The preliminary hearing in the murder case of Jacob Sims resumed Friday morning at the El Centro Courthouse, marking the third day of proceedings in a case that has drawn significant attention from the local community.
Defendants, defense counsel, prosecutors and members of the Sims family were present as testimony continued. Although the hearing has extended longer than initially anticipated, family members expressed confidence in the prosecution’s efforts.
“It’s hard,” said Genia Sims, the victim’s grandmother. “These testimonies just drag on and on. But I think the prosecution is doing very well.”
Much of Friday's session centered on testimony from a resident of the home where Jacob Sims’ body was discovered. The witness, the seventh individual to take the stand in the preliminary hearing, testified under a grant of immunity.
During her testimony, the witness stated that she extinguished a fire at the location where Sims’ body was later found, explaining that her intent was to prevent the flames from spreading. She further testified that she did not know if there was anything burning in the fire and had no knowledge of who started it.
Genia Sims expressed skepticism regarding how much information the witnesses are sharing.
“I just feel like they know more than what they’re saying,” she said. “If this was their family member, they would want the truth.”
Family members also recounted how they felt after Gabriel Mills Sr. and Gabriel Mills Jr. were seen laughing during today's witness testifying.
“It disgusts me to no end,” Sims said. “If they think this is a big joke, sitting in the courtroom with smirks and smiles and laughing, it’s sickening.”
The preliminary hearing is scheduled to resume Monday morning.
