MANKATO, Minn. – The Winona man accused of killing Maddi Kingsbury waived his right to testify in his own defense. The decision of Adam Fravel to be silent capped his attorneys’ presentation of its fivedefense witnesses on Fravel’s behalf during the morning. Without Fravel testifying, Judge Nancy Buytendorp ordered a recess until Wednesday, when attorneys will make their closing arguments to the jury. The long weekend recess clears the calendar of everyone involved in the trial through Election Day on Tuesday.
Defense strategy
It is common practice for a defendant in a criminal case not to take the witness stand personally. Conventional wisdom is for defense attorneys, as experts in argumentation and the law, to be the mouthpiece of the defendant. Also, defendants who testify expose themselves to cross-examination by prosecutors. In short, there almost always is more to lose than to gain n when defendants testify.
Fravel. In coat and tie for court appearances. Otherwise in inmate orange in lieu of $3 million bail.