First Week Of Testimony in Raymond Lee Oyler Arson-Murder Trial

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After four full days of listening to witnesses and viewing evidence, some of it startling, a California jury hearing the arson-murder case against 38-year old Raymond Lee Oyler of Beaumont, has taken a three-day weekend break.

The prosecution is attempting to link Oyler to a deadly October 26, 2006 fire in the hills above Cabazon near the Southern California desert resort of Palm Springs. Oyler, a former auto mechanic, claims he was, at first, home watching his infant son then later visiting a nearby casino in the hours just before and when the 43-thousand acre blaze began.

Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Michael Hestrin says he can prove Oyler deliberately set 23 fires including the Esperanza wildland fire that snuffed out the lives of five U.S. Forest Service firefighters.

Before a jury of nine women and three men, a prosecution witness last week picked out Oyler in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan as the man he saw on a mountain road near one of the fires driving a shabby looking, dark-colored Ford Taurus. The prosecution maintains that that vehicle was the same one later found in the parking lot of Oyler's nearby apartment complex.

On courtroom monitors jury members were shown pictures of three charred firefighters' bodies along with photos of a badly scorched fire helmet and gear unsuccessfully used to protect firefighters in the Esperanza blaze.

In a hearing not held in front of the jury Oyler's defense attorney, Mark McDonald, lost a bid to present evidence he claimed would show that another person, a former Forest Service employee, started blazes in the same region and in the same time frame of the fires Oyler is charged with setting.

There was no testimony heard Friday. The jury is due back in the courtroom Monday morning for four more days of testimony. On one of those days the prosecution is expected to show photos of Oyler's left arm emblazoned with a flame-colored tattoo.

To watch exclusive video coverage of the opening day in the Raymond Lee Oyler trial, click here.

To watch Bill Lorin's report on Week 2 Testimony, click here.

To watch Bill Lorin's report on Week 3 Testimony, click here.