Ash trial costs are more than $78,000

Kimball County taxpayers have paid a hefty price in the second Vencil Ash murder trial.

The weeklong trial in late January and early February has cost the county more than $78,000 as of claims paid in late April. Ash was found guilty in the 2003 murder of Ryan Guitron. He was sentenced to life in prison in late March.

Claims provided by the county clerk’s office show that the cost of the trial this fiscal year alone has more than doubled its budgeted amount. The county budgeted $30,000 for the trial this fiscal year, which began July 1, 2014, and runs through June 30. As of April 21, the count...