Defense attorney in Caleb Quick’s murder case hints at suspect’s childhood trauma

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Caleb Quick’s suspected shooter returned to court Tuesday to schedule his transfer hearing.

He and his girlfriend face independent murder charges after Quick was shot in a Clovis McDonald’s parking lot in April.

He was arrested at 16 years old, and his transfer hearing will determine whether he’s tried as an adult or a minor.

However, Quick’s family and friends crowded the Fresno County courtroom to simply be sent home because the hearing was delayed.

“We wait more time in the hallway than we actually do in the courtroom,” Caleb’s father, Stephen Quick, said.

He was neither surprised nor disappointed by the delay, though.

“Honestly, I was expecting this to get pushed out till next year. No one wants to work on the holidays and this is a very serious case,” Quick said.

He is content with delays as long as it means the attorneys do a more thorough job of preparing.

“It wouldn’t do my son any justice if we just made a decision today hastily. So I want to make sure everything is, you know, ‘T’s are crossed, ‘I’s are dotted,” Quick said.

Defense attorney Mark Coleman says the hearing was delayed because they need more time to study the evidence.

“There is a lot of discovery, particularly in the form of electronic discovery… the amount of data on those phones is unbelievable,” Coleman said.

Coleman is fighting to keep his client in the juvenile justice system so, even if he is convicted, he will be released at 25 years old – a right guaranteed by Prop 57.

“Ultimately, the issue is punishment as opposed to rehabilitation,” Coleman said.

He says his defense strategy to keep the suspect in juvenile court relies on psychological evidence.

“There is an undisputed body of evidence that shows that juvenile brain development, especially if they’ve been exposed to certain life events, is different,” Coleman said.

Coleman says they are looking into events that may have previously damaged or delayed the suspect’s brain development.

“Childhood events,” Coleman said. “Concussions in football, concussions when you’re seven years old can lead to brain injury. Yes, I am suggesting there is evidence of that.”

Quick doubts the rationale of that argument.

“There are a lot of different circumstances that an individual can have growing up, for sure. But, I mean, a lot of people don’t end up putting a gun to someone’s head and pulling the trigger because of those situations,” Quick said.

The suspect will return to court to schedule the transfer hearing on Jan. 8, and Coleman says they will likely schedule it for February or March.