Prosecution Rests in Murder Trial of Arizona Rancher

Published on April 17, 2024

NOGALES, Ariz.—Prosecutors in the high-profile murder trial of George Alan Kelly rested their case in an Arizona courtroom as defense lawyers called their first witnesses on April 16. Court officials said they anticipate final arguments as early as April 17, after which the jury would begin deliberating three weeks of physical evidence and oral testimony. Mr. Kelly, 75, is accused of firing the bullet from a semi-automatic rifle that struck and killed Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, 48, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was trespassing on his ranch property in the border town of Nogales on Jan. 30, 2023. Mr. Kelly told authorities that he saw five men, possibly armed and wearing large backpacks, running on his property while he was having lunch....