JEFF CAPLAN'S AFTERNOON NEWS

Legal expert shares thoughts on closing arguments of Vallow Daybell trial

May 11, 2023, 9:30 PM | Updated: May 15, 2023, 9:48 am

lori vallow daybell pictured, she faces murder charges in arizona...

FILE - Lori Vallow Daybell, appears in court in Lihue, Hawaii, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. (Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island via AP, Pool, File)

(Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island via AP, Pool, File)

SALT LAKE CITY — Closing arguments in the Lori Vallow Daybell trial concluded Thursday, and the case is now in the hands of the jury.

KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas joined Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on Thursday to discuss the case as it concludes.

Listen to the full closing arguments:

 

Caplan asked, “What were the highlights of the closing arguments today?”

“The highlights really were the state doing a very compelling job of explaining to the jury why it was that they had put on a significant case,” Skordas said. “Why it was that they had established proof beyond a reasonable doubt for the jury to convict.”

High points of the closing arguments

“One of their (the defense) arguments seemed to be that there wasn’t much in the way of physical evidence linking Lori Vallow to the crimes. Will that hold water with the jury?” Caplan asked.

“I think that was their strongest argument,” Skordas said. “And there was one piece of evidence that was pretty compelling. And that was Lori’s hair that was found on the tape that was used in part to bind little JJ.”

Skordas thinks that piece of evidence may have been the difference for the state.

“And probably, and I’m just guessing got them over the hurdle that you just mentioned that the defense claimed they couldn’t overcome,” he said. “I think that was the piece of evidence that the state really needed to put Lori at the crime scene.”

What could the jurors be thinking?

Caplan asked, “Do you have any thoughts about how this jury might decide in the hours or days ahead?”

“I think the state did its job,” Skordas said. “I think it put on a good case. (And) I thought the defense was lacking, with all respect to these lawyers who seemed to be very competent. Maybe they just didn’t have much to work with.”

The jury deliberated for roughly two hours Thursday afternoon before adjourning for the day. Jury deliberations will resume Friday morning. 

Listen to the entire segment.

 

Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News can be heard on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Read more:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Jeff Caplan's Afternoon News

Mount Jannu (Canva)...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Three Utahns brave Mount Jannu

Nobody has ever climbed Jannu freestyle and without oxygen … until now. And without much fanfare, three guys from Utah are back home after shocking the world of mountain climbing with this incredible feat.  

3 days ago

SALT LAKE CITY — Spotify has released its list of the top songs of the year for Salt Lake City......

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: SLC’s top five Spotify songs are also the five stages of grief

Spotify has released its list of the top songs of the year for Salt Lake City and it strikes me that our top five songs of 2023 are about the five stages of grief.

3 days ago

Terry Schow, retired executive director at Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, listens as Presiden...

Kristine Weller

How the PACT Act supports Utah veterans since approval

Saturday is the second Veterans Day since a law expanding veteran health care passed. How many Utah veterans are covered?

27 days ago

a doctor speaks to a patient, -- The Salt Lake County Health Department reported Thursday that it h...

Sam Herrera

Salt Lake County reports 800% increase in syphilis among women

Most of those cases were in women of childbearing age between the ages of 15 and 44, increasing the likelihood of infants born with syphilis.

28 days ago

The Utes lose at the 109th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif....

Mark Jones

Bodkin: Rising likely to miss Utah season-opener against Florida

KSL Sports Utes Insider Michelle Bodkin tells Jeff Caplan's Afternoon News that it is likely that Utah quarterback Cam Rising will miss Thursday's season-opener against Florida.

3 months ago

Blazing Needles...

Jessica Lowell

The legacy of Blazing Needles; local knitting shop closing after 16 years

Blazing Needles owner, Cynthia Mills, has announced the shop will be permanently closing its doors after 16 years.

4 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Human hand holding a protest banner stop vaping message over a crowded street background....

Prosperous Utah Communities

Utah’s Battle to Protect Youth from Vaping Epidemic Faces New Threat as Proposed Rule Threatens Progress

Utah's strict standards of nicotine levels in vaping products are at risk, increasing health hazards associated with use. Read more about how you can advocate for a better future for Utah's youth.

Legal expert shares thoughts on closing arguments of Vallow Daybell trial