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Judge considers verdict in Sioux City slayings

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May 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge is considering his verdict regarding a 19-year-old Sioux City resident accused of stabbing to death his ex-girlfriend and another man. Testimony ended Monday in the nonjury trial of Tran Walker. He’s accused of killing 17-year-old Paiten Sullivan and 18-year-old Felipe Negron Jr. Police say Walker was in a car with the other two on Jan. 28 last year when he stabbed Sullivan and then Negron when he tried to intervene.

Walker has pleaded not guilty to the two counts of first-degree murder. A friend of Walker testified that the defendant said he had wanted to talk to the girl about their breakup and that he needed closure. Sullivan’s stepmother , Stevie Sullivan, testified that Walker and Sullivan broke up because he didn’t want her to finish school.

Judge Tod Deck told the courtroom that he didn’t know when he’d reach a verdict.