The lead detective in the trial of Michael Keatley, a former ice cream man accused of two murders, faced intense questioning from defense attorney Richard Escobar over mistakes in the investigation.
Keatley is accused of ambushing six men playing cards on a front porch in Ruskin on Thanksgiving Day 2010, resulting in the death of two men.
Prosecutors claim Keatley was seeking revenge for being shot and robbed while on his ice cream round 11 months prior, but targeted the wrong house.
Lieutenant Jose Lugo of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was grilled over missing surveillance video and failure to record his interrogation with Keatley.
In a grueling testimony that lasted for hours, Escobar pressed Lugo on almost every aspect of the investigation, suggesting that other deputies or supervisors could have ensured the interrogation was recorded if Lugo had asked.
The trial will resume on Monday.
