NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – Each the prosecution and protection rested Thursday within the trial of a person who drove by a gaggle of Moore Excessive College runners in February 2023, killing three of them.
Townsend drove by a gaggle of Moore Excessive College runners again in February 2023, killing Yuridia Martinez, Rachel Freeman and Kolby Crum.
4 different college students have been injured.
Townsend then crashed right into a Volkswagen Beetle earlier than finally stopping at a avenue over from the highschool.
He’s dealing with three counts of second-degree homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a fatality accident and three counts of leaving the scene of an damage accident.
In the course of the remaining day of testimony on Thursday, the prosecution performed cellphone calls that Townsend created from contained in the Cleveland County Detention Middle after the crash.
In one of many calls, Townsend is heard asking his sister, “How did this occur to me?”
He additionally mentioned, “I may need been behind the wheel, but it surely wasn’t me.”
He then began quoting scripture and speaking about Devil, saying, “He’s as actual as God.” He then mentioned for a second time, “It wasn’t me.”
In one other name, when requested if he was excessive on THC on the time, Townsend mentioned, “I don’t know.” He additionally advised his sister, “I had two beers.”
The state has maintained that Townsend was beneath affect of alcohol and THC on the time of the crash, with a blood alcohol degree of .068, which is just below the authorized restrict.
The protection maintains that Townsend choked on a Pink Bull he was consuming on the time of the crash, leaving him unconscious.
On Thursday afternoon, the protection referred to as a pharmacology and forensic toxicology skilled, Dr. Jimmie Valentine, to the stand.
Valentine testified {that a} .068 blood alcohol degree can impact folks in a different way, relying on physique measurement and the way a lot the particular person has eaten whereas consuming.
He advised the jury that in his skilled opinion, Townsend’s alcohol degree was not sufficient to elucidate the accident, saying he believes Townsend’s declare that he handed out is believable.
Nevertheless, throughout cross examination, Valentine advised prosecutors that he was not conscious that different witnesses testified earlier within the week that Townsend had his palms on the wheel, eyes open and was alert. He mentioned he wished he would have had that data earlier than forming his opinion.
Subsequent, the protection referred to as Townsend’s sister, Wanda Jones, to the stand.
She talked about how distraught Townsend was the day earlier than the crash, when his son, Cody Townsend, handed away.
Throughout cross examination, the state offered cellphone information that confirmed a textual content message Townsend despatched to Jones the night time earlier than the crash. He advised her that he didn’t really feel effectively sufficient to drive.
It was implied in courtroom this was because of the loss of life of his son that day.
Jones was questioned by prosecutors about why she lied to the lead detective on the case in regards to the textual content.
The detective testified as a rebuttal witness for the state, after the protection rested.
He mentioned he requested Jones a number of instances when he interviewed her after the crash if she acquired that textual content from Townsend and she or he continued to say she didn’t.
Jones had no clarification for why she lied to the detective. When requested by prosecutors if she was attempting to guard Townsend, she mentioned “I don’t know.”
Closing arguments start Friday morning at 9 a.m.
