Hutchinson Trial Opens With Evidence, Witness Testimony

The prosecution presented evidence and called six witnesses Thursday in the murder trial of Tyler James Hutchinson, the man accused in the beating death of Albert Korn in 2009.

A jury of 11 men and five women in Courtroom H of San Mateo Superior Court listened intently as assistant district attorney Morris Maya described in detail the events leading up to the death of 88-year-old Albert Korn.

“The most valuable thing Tyler James Hutchinson took on June 2, 2009 wasn’t Mr. Korn’s wallet or Mrs. Korn’s jewelry, or even Mr. Korn’s beloved Jaguar—it was Mr. Korn’s life,” said Maya in his opening statement to the jury.

Korn died at Stanford hospital on June 17, 2009, 15 days after the beating.

In his opening statement, Maya commended the community and law enforcement for their efforts in helping capture the defendant.

 “The community of Belmont came together to catch a killer,” said Maya, adding that the “teleminder” phone alerts sent out by the Belmont Police Department alerted residents to be on the lookout for Albert Korn’s Jaguar, which was stolen on the day of the break-in, presumably by Tyler James Hutchinson.

The Jaguar was recovered on June 5 parked on a Belmont street.

In addition to photos and physical evidence presented during the opening arguments, Morris called several witnesses, including Capt. Arthur Anderson of the Belmont/San Carlos Fire Department, one of the first responders to the scene of the crime on June 2, 2009.

Anderson along with another firefighter, Don Gile and a paramedic were the first responders to the Korn home. They were dispatched to the home after Albert Korn’s son, Matthew, returned after a brief trip to Home Depot to find his father badly injured and leaning on the kitchen counter. They younger Korn thought his father had fallen.

Anderson testified that upon assessing Korn’s injuries, he suspected they weren’t the result of a fall.

“I have been on thousands of calls and treated hundreds of fall victims---these injuries were not consistent with a fall,” said Anderson.

He then detailed his search of the house, where he noticed blood on the floor of the home office, and an open window near a hallway leading to the master bedroom.

“At that point I knew it was a police emergency,” said Anderson, who then summoned Belmont police.  

Upon questioning, Anderson testified that Korn was unable to speak but made some mumbled attempts as asking for his wife, Gabriele Korn. Mrs. Korn was away from the home at the time of the crime, having gone to the Peninsula Jewish Community Center and to visit her daughter and grandchildren.

Korn was taken to Stanford Hospital where he died 15 days later.

Other witnesses included Don Gile, investigating officer Sgt. Detective Peter Lotti, Scott James, Tim Bateman and Donald Lewis.  These witnesses were the officers and medics who were the initial responders to the murder scene. 

Maya assured the jury that during the trial, evidence processed by the San Mateo County Crime Lab, including DNA evidence, fingerprints, and shoe prints will conclusively link Tyler James Hutchinson to the killing.

Defense attorney James Thompson told the court that he would make his opening statements once the prosecution has completed its statements.

Hutchinson remains in custody on a no-bail status.

The trial resumes on Friday.

Read more on Belmont and San Carlos Patch:

Transient to Stand Trial in Beating Death of Albert Korn

Update: 'I Know That Child is Not Normal'

Belmont Man Arrested in Indecent Exposure Case

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