Defense rests in Day 5 of Hughes Murder Trial

The defense presented multiple witnesses, most were members of Colten’s maternal family including his mother Kim Coleman, Colten’s executive assistant, and recalled the witness from the Claybird Association in San Angelo.

Testimonies today confirmed that Colten had other firearms that would use .410 gauge ammo by changing the barrel on the gun.

Colten’s executive assistant testified that she kept personal and business schedules for Colten and his business partner Steven Bishop. She said that Bishop did trading and Colten would bring in investors for the business. She witnessed multiple checks being deposited by Colten but never saw who they were from. She was paid weekly by direct deposits from Bishop’s account. She also took photos of Colten’s residence in Trophy Club after it was searched by the Big Spring Police Department because it looked like nothing had been searched. A few of these photos were shared with the jury.

Multiple family members, including mother Kim Coleman, took the stand to testify about Colten’s nature as a person, which was described as someone who would never get upset about anything and was a “good kid”. They also spoke about his close relationship with Leah Hughes. Coleman stated that he began living with Leah after an argument he had with an uncle.

Coleman also testified about her tumultuous relationship with Colten’s father, Wes Hughes, and described a violent incident that occurred when she was pregnant with Colten, and a time that he had become hostile with her mother. The incidents were also confirmed by other Coleman family members. She also stated she, her boyfriend, and Colten had taken a trip to Belize the week before the death of Leah Hughes and heard about an island there being for sale. A still frame of a video from that trip was shared with the jury.

The defense rested their case today and had no other evidence to present. The jury was dismissed for the day. They’ll return to the 118th District Court on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 9 AM to receive jury instructions, hear closing statements, and deliberate.