Judge Admitted Past Violence in McLeod Murder Trial
A San Diego judge ruled prosecutors can present prior domestic violence evidence in the 2016 murder case of Raymond McLeod.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Sex Crimes
Judge Kimberlee Lagotta ruled that past domestic violence incidents from 2009 and 2016 are admissible in the murder trial of Raymond McLeod. McLeod is accused of the 2016 strangulation death of Krystal Mitchell in a San Diego apartment.
Why it matters
The ruling allows the prosecution to leverage a history of alleged abuse to support their case, as the defense argues that Mitchell died during a consensual sexual encounter. The court also continued the preliminary hearing to give the defense time to review new discovery.
Judge Kimberlee Lagotta approved the inclusion of domestic violence evidence from 2009 and 2016, citing a standard 10-year admissibility window for such incidents. The preliminary hearing was continued to ensure the defense can process new discovery.
The players
Raymond McLeod
The defendant is charged with the 2016 murder of Krystal Mitchell and was the subject of a long-term international manhunt.
Krystal Mitchell
The victim was found deceased in a San Diego apartment in 2016.
Kimberlee Lagotta
The judge presiding over the case recently issued the ruling regarding the admissibility of past domestic violence evidence.
U.S. Marshals Service
The federal agency responsible for apprehending fugitives placed the defendant on its most-wanted list in 2021.
The details
Raymond McLeod was captured in El Salvador in 2022 after being added to the U.S. Marshals most-wanted list in 2021. The prosecution successfully argued that the past assaults are relevant to the murder charges, while the defense maintains that the victim's death was accidental.
Timeline
In 2009, McLeod allegedly assaulted an ex-wife during a custody exchange.
Krystal Mitchell was found dead in a San Diego apartment on June 10, 2016.
The U.S. Marshals Service placed McLeod on its most-wanted list in 2021.
McLeod was captured in El Salvador in 2022.
A previous criminal case against the defendant was dismissed in 2025.
Legal Context
The admissibility of prior acts of domestic violence in California courts is governed by California Evidence Code Section 1109. The judge's ruling follows the precedent established by this law, which permits the introduction of past domestic violence to show a propensity for similar conduct.
The ongoing judicial process in this case highlights the local enforcement of domestic violence laws and the procedural rights afforded to defendants. Residents and local businesses remain unaffected by the courtroom proceedings as the case moves through the preliminary hearing stage.
The takeaway
The court's decision underscores the difficulty of prosecuting domestic violence cases when incidents span multiple years and jurisdictions. This case serves as a reminder of how evidentiary rules can shift the trajectory of a murder trial when patterns of behavior are introduced.
Further reading
For more on how local courts handle complex domestic violence cases, see Sex Crimes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Court House News Service.
