Prosecutor Leonardo Rapadas called the government’s last two witnesses in the Joyner Sked trial Wednesday. The first witness, Sirena Duenas Yamasta, was Joyner Sked’s cell mate at the Department of Corrections. She was released from jail the day before. The final witness of the day was Dr. Martin Ishikawa, an expert in forensic pathology who performed the autopsy on the former Umatac mayor, Daniel Sanchez, whom Ms. Sked is accused of murdering on April 1, 2021.
According to Yamasta, she had two separate conversations with Sked in jail. On April 19, 2021, Yamasta wrote a statement about her conversations. In her testimony, Ms. Yamasta testified that after Sked was processed to be detained, she greeted Yamasta and asked her if she knew Daniel Sanchez was found dead at Rudy Quinata’s home. Yamasta asked if he had died from natural causes. Sked responded, “If he died of natural causes, I wouldn’t be in here,” and laughed. Starting to cry, Yamasta said, “F**k you, troll.” At this point, Ms. Sked said, “You’re next. You’re going to have a hard time putting your kids’ heads back on their body(sic).”
Ms. Yamasta recounted a second conversation to the jury, quoting Sked as saying, “He told on me. Everything’s me. He put it all on me. Who are they going to believe, a two-time convicted murderer or me?” referring to her boyfriend, Rudy Quinata, who is being tried separately.
Before leaving the stand, defense attorney Terrence Timblin pointed out that Yamasta has a criminal history dating back to 2018, when she was charged with the delivery of a schedule II-controlled substance, theft of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, use of a motor vehicle without identification, and criminal trespass. Mr. Rapadas then asked Ms. Yamasta if she received a plea deal for her testimony. Ms. Yamasta said, “No.”
Coroner: Sanchez was alive when stabbed
Expert forensic pathologist Dr. Martin Ishikawa said the stab wounds from the scissors had the external impression they were anti-mortem injuries, meaning they occurred when Sanchez was still alive. Dr. Ishikawa testified via Zoom and stated that the cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds and chop wounds. Specifically, 23 stab wounds and four chop wounds. Chop wounds are produced by heavy instruments with a cutting edge, most likely from the claw of the hammer, found near Daniel Sanchez’s head when he was discovered padlocked in Quinata’s shack. The most pronounced stab wound was noted to be on the left side of Sanchez’s chest where he lost 200 milliliters of blood. The average human body contains five liters of blood and according to Mr. Ishikawa, anything more than 20 percent of blood is considered a significant loss of blood.
The government then rested its case and Mr. Timblin, defense attorney for Ms. Sked, said he will be calling his witnesses. The trial is set to continue Thursday at 1:00 pm. Sked is expected to take the stand before the trial ends. Joyner Sked is accused of stabbing Daniel Sanchez at the home of her boyfriend, Rudy Quinata, who is being tried separately.
