Attorney Eric Tindal was recently featured in a KCRG-TV9 report titled, Criminal defense attorney breaks down Mollie Tibbetts trial. With more than two decades of trial-tested experience, he is well-versed in the legal process of murder trials.
Nearly three years after the death of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, Cristian Bahena Rivera is set to stand trial for First Degree Murder, starting with jury selection on Monday, May 17, 2021.
Attorney Tindal said to KCRG:
“I think what makes this trial stand out was the national attention it received at the beginning of the case, and the national attention it received due to the political environment, particularly given illegal immigrants at the time.”
Although the trial was moved to Scott County, he said “the implicit bias of each individual juror” will create challenges for jury selection, claiming the defense team must overcome each jurors’ assumption of guilt for the defendant and will need to cast doubt in the jury’s mind.
On the other hand, the prosecution will present all the evidence they’ve gathered since 2018. Attorney Tindal believes the strongest fact of the case is that the defendant guided law enforcement officials to the location where the body was found.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a state or federal crime in Iowa City or within Eastern Iowa, contact Keegan, Tindal & Jaeger today at (319) 499-5524 for a free initial consultation. Our legal team has more than 50 years of combined trial experience.