Arrijana Hill
ANGLETON — Jurors heard opening statements Tuesday morning in the Capital Murder trial of Ryan Matthews, 17, who stands accused of the slaying of Dawson High School student Arrijana Hill on March 21, 2013.
The trial is being held at the Brazoria County Courthouse, Judge Pat Sebesta presiding.
Matthews pled not guilty to two counts of stabbing and manual asphyxiation of Hill, resulting in her death as well as the death of her two unborn children.
Assistant Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk’s hour-long opening statement constructed a timeline from the defendant’s text messages with the decedent, as well as numerous others, that allowed for motive and opportunity for the defendant to commit the crime.
As Sistrunk explained how Hill’s younger brother came home first, noticed something was wrong, and called his parents, members of the nine male and four female jury started tearing up.
Sistrunk finished with his expectation that forensic witnesses and evidence would show that the defendant had committed the crime.
Defense attorney Tommy Stickler, Jr.’s brief opening statement claimed that the evidence would show tunnel vision on the part of investigators, that evidence existed that would exonerate Matthews and that no knife or other sharp object was recovered.
The jury, made up of three African Americans, two Hispanics and nine Caucasians, reacted with tears and body language that suggested disgust during the prosecution’s opening statement, but appeared more relaxed as the defense opened.
Hill’s parents, David and Opal Hill, remained in the courtroom during the proceedings.
