Judge rejects motion for mistrial in Arlington football game murder case

Nestor Ortiz-Ocampo’s attorneys asked for a mistrial, saying the judge had a hostile attitude toward them.

Ben Nandy and Rob Taub

Aug 9, 2023, 9:10 PM

Updated 425 days ago

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A judge has denied a motion for a retrial in the case of a fatal stabbing after an Arlington football game.
Nestor Ortiz-Ocampo, 19, is accused of fatally stabbing Quraan Smith, an Arlington High School student, after a football game in September 2021.
During the proceedings, one of Ortiz-Ocampo’s attorneys, Bruce Barket, asked for a mistrial saying Judge Jessica Segal was being openly hostile toward him and his colleague. Segal denied the motion for mistrial.
Barket said in court that Segal called the defense team unprofessional in sidebar chats, threatened multiple times to charge him with contempt of court and wouldn't adjust jury instructions like the defense asked.
“The record will speak for itself with regard to any errors I may have committed," said Segal.
Day three of jury deliberations begins Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
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