SAN ANTONIO – The courtroom was filled with tension as a pretrial hearing for Stephen Clare, charged in the brutal attack on his ex-wife and two young daughters, unfolded on Thursday morning.
Clare stands accused of shooting Mariah Gardner and stabbing his daughters Rosalie and Willow Gardner back in April 2023. Tragically, 11-month-old Willow did not survive her injuries.
During the hearing, the defense requested access to Child Protective Service records, a motion that was granted by the judge. Additionally, it was revealed that the firearm used in the crime had been recovered and was undergoing testing at the Bexar County Crime Lab.
In a race against time, the judge ordered expedited testing of the firearm to ensure that the results would be available for the next hearing.
Due to the necessity of handing over this crucial evidence to the defense, the original trial date, set for October 11th, has been postponed. It now appears that the trial will likely be pushed to early next year.
The case is scheduled to be back in front of the judge in 45 days, with Clare potentially facing the death penalty if found guilty.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
