Hello and welcome to the sidebar presented by True Crime News, taking you inside the

courtrooms of high profile and notorious cases from across the country. I'm your host, Joshua Ritter.

I'm a criminal defense lawyer based

in Los Angeles and previously an LA County prosecutor for over a decade. We're recording this on

Wednesday, May 27th, 2026. In this week's episode, a former teacher accused of brutally stabbing

two strangers to death on a hiking trail. Plus, a victim's father held in contempt following an emotional outburst at a hearing

for a quadruple murder suspect.

But first, an alleged gunman's statements will be used against him after rejecting a plea

deal in the murder for hire of a father.

And today we are very happy to be joined by Ashley Wilcott, a former judge, legal analyst,

and child welfare specialist.

Ashley, welcome back.

How are you?

Oh, so great to be on with you.

Thank you.

Great.

And always appreciate being on your show.

Oh, we always appreciate having you because you've got such vast experience,

having watched these

trials and and followed them and done commentary on them for so many years and as a former judge

and there's some interesting issues legally we talk you know nominally this this show is about

legal issues but sometimes we we get a little more into

...