Judge rules Vanessa Morales’ disappearance can be part of father’s murder trial; jury selection starts Tuesday
On the eve of that, both sides appeared in Milford Superior Court, where a judge made a critical ruling on what evidence jurors will hear.
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Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday morning in the murder trial of Jose Morales, the New Haven man accused of killing Ansonia mom Christine Holloway, with whom he had a daughter.
On the eve of that, both sides appeared in Milford Superior Court, where a judge made a critical ruling on what evidence jurors will hear.
Judge Shari Murphy denied a motion by the defense to exclude mention of Morales and Holloway’s daughter, Vanessa Morales, who disappeared at the time of the 2019 homicide.
Ansonia police named Morales a suspect when the 14-month-old girl went missing but never charged him. Morales’ attorney, Ed Gavin, argued in court that any mention of Vanessa would confuse the jury and be highly prejudicial to his client.
“Your Honor, that evidence, in my opinion, is not relevant or material to the crime charged—the homicide of Christine Holloway,” Gavin said in court. “What possible gain could the state have for introducing the fact that Vanessa is missing other than to get to the heartstrings of the jury?”
Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Howard Stein countered that the investigations into Holloway’s death and Vanessa’s disappearance, “are thoroughly and inexplicably tied together.”
Police responded to Holloway’s home on Myrtle Avenue in December 2019 and found her beaten to death and Vanessa gone.
Stein told the judge Monday that the toddler’s disappearance goes to Morales’ intent, means and opportunity in the homicide.
“It is relevant. It is material. It is potentially direct and circumstantial evidence directly into the nature and the circumstances of Christine Holloway's death,” Stein stated.
Judge Murphy agreed, calling the evidence “highly probative,” and saying the probative value outweighs any prejudicial factors. Murphy also said that because the two investigations are intertwined, trying to sever any reference to Vanessa at trial could confuse and mislead the jury.
However, Murphy stated there could be limitations to that evidence. The judge told Stein that if he plans to introduce evidence that Vanessa has been harmed in any way, he must bring that to the court beforehand outside of the jury’s presence. Murphy said that includes any testimony that Vanessa is still missing.
The family of Holloway and Vanessa were at the hearing, just as they have been at every court appearance. They declined to speak on camera after it but asked people to keep praying for them and sharing updates on this case. Their hope for the trial is two-fold—that they get justice for Holloway and bring Vanessa home.
Prior to the start of jury selection Tuesday, the judge is set to issue a ruling on other suppression motions from the defense asking that DNA and cellphone evidence be excluded from the trial, which is expected to start in March.
According to his arrest warrant, Morales told police he was using PCP the weekend of Holloway’s death and Vanessa’s disappearance and doesn’t remember anything, but he said he would have never hurt them.
Morales has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and evidence tampering. He remains in custody on $5 million bond.
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