Update:Nov.19, 2014 8:40 p.m.
NOTE: This is a comprehensive account of testimony and evidence presented in the trial. For that reason, some content can be disturbing to readers.
FORT SMITH, AR (KNWA) – Prosecution has rested Tuesday and defense began, wrapping up day two of the murder trial for Gregory Aaron Kinsey.
Kinsey is charged with two counts of capital murder, accused of using a machete to kill Nathan Young and Brandon Prince on June 26,2013.
On Tuesday, prosecutors introduced pictures of the crime scene and the physical evidence like the boots, shirt, pants Kinsey was wearing that night in June. Prosecution also introduced other items for evidence including the machete, dollar general bags, a lemon/lime pop bottle and bath tissue.
Two Fort Smith police Department detectives, Joe Armor and Troy Williams, testified for the prosecution.
Kinsey sat quietly in the courtroom as prosecution played a couple recorded phone calls Kinsey made from jail. In one call, Kinsey could be heard saying it “Started out as self defense and went beyond that.” In another, he said ‘When I swung that blade I knew I was pretty much giving up everything, my freedom.’
Cole Prince, the 16-year-old son of Brandon Price also took the stand. He said was at the house that night, staying with his dad for fathers day, along with his three-year-old brother, Cane.
Cole said his dad, Price, had gone outside to smoke a cigarette while he and his brother were inside, watching a movie. Cole stated ran outside when he heard his dad screaming and saw Price running up to the door with blood and cuts.
Cole said he saw Kinsey picking up bags of groceries. He said he grabbed towels to try and stop his dads bleeding but Price died in his arms while his neighbor was on the phone with 911.
Prosecution rested and the court recessed around 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
When court reconvened, defense began. Defense called Fort Smith firefighter Peter Gross who testified he could smell blood and alcohol in the air when he arrived on scene. He described where the blood was located at the crime scene, telling the jury it was on the porch, alley, street and under a tree near the home.
Gross said it would have and that it was the most blood he had ever seen at a crime scene.
Fort Smith firefighter David Ulrich also testified to the smell of blood and told the jury where the blood, which he said had presented a bio-hazard, had been washed away.
Defense asked Fort Smith Police Department’s Ricky Brooks, the evidence custodian for the case, about flip flops that were checked into evidence. Brooks said 4 flip flops were logged on the log check in but that only 3 were actually checked in.
Fort Smith EMS worker Jake Tucker was also questioned about the blood and alcohol smell when he arrived on scene. He said that he had smelled blood and alcohol and also saw cans on the porch but couldn’t say for sure if they were beer cans. He told the jury that by the time he got to the scene, he wasn’t able to do anything for the victims.
Court recessed less than an hour after convening. Judge Stephen Tabor said court would be back in session at 9am Wednesday morning and could rap up sometime in the afternoon. The jury could begin deliberations as early as Wednesday afternoon.
FORT SMITH– Jury finds Gregory Aaron Kinsey guilty.
Just before 7:00 p.m., Gregory Aaron Kinsey was found guilty on one count of murder in the second degree in the killing of Brandon Prince, and murder in the first degree in the killing of Nathan Young.
Kinsey is expected back in court on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for sentencing.
NOTE: This is a comprehensive account of testimony and evidence presented in the trial. For that reason, some content can be disturbing to readers.
FORT SMITH, AR (KNWA) – Prosecution has rested Tuesday and defense began, wrapping up day two of the murder trial for Gregory Aaron Kinsey.
Kinsey is charged with two counts of capital murder, accused of using a machete to kill Nathan Young and Brandon Prince on June 26,2013.
On Tuesday, prosecutors introduced pictures of the crime scene and the physical evidence like the boots, shirt, pants Kinsey was wearing that night in June. Prosecution also introduced other items for evidence including the machete, dollar general bags, a lemon/lime pop bottle and bath tissue.
Two Fort Smith police Department detectives, Joe Armor and Troy Williams, testified for the prosecution.
Kinsey sat quietly in the courtroom as prosecution played a couple recorded phone calls Kinsey made from jail. In one call, Kinsey could be heard saying it “Started out as self defense and went beyond that.” In another, he said ‘When I swung that blade I knew I was pretty much giving up everything, my freedom.’
Cole Prince, the 16-year-old son of Brandon Price also took the stand. He said was at the house that night, staying with his dad for fathers day, along with his three-year-old brother, Cane.
Cole said his dad, Price, had gone outside to smoke a cigarette while he and his brother were inside, watching a movie. Cole stated ran outside when he heard his dad screaming and saw Price running up to the door with blood and cuts.
Cole said he saw Kinsey picking up bags of groceries. He said he grabbed towels to try and stop his dads bleeding but Price died in his arms while his neighbor was on the phone with 911.
Prosecution rested and the court recessed around 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
When court reconvened, defense began. Defense called Fort Smith firefighter Peter Gross who testified he could smell blood and alcohol in the air when he arrived on scene. He described where the blood was located at the crime scene, telling the jury it was on the porch, alley, street and under a tree near the home.
Gross said it would have and that it was the most blood he had ever seen at a crime scene.
Fort Smith firefighter David Ulrich also testified to the smell of blood and told the jury where the blood, which he said had presented a bio-hazard, had been washed away.
Defense asked Fort Smith Police Department’s Ricky Brooks, the evidence custodian for the case, about flip flops that were checked into evidence. Brooks said 4 flip flops were logged on the log check in but that only 3 were actually checked in.
Fort Smith EMS worker Jake Tucker was also questioned about the blood and alcohol smell when he arrived on scene. He said that he had smelled blood and alcohol and also saw cans on the porch but couldn’t say for sure if they were beer cans. He told the jury that by the time he got to the scene, he wasn’t able to do anything for the victims.
Court recessed less than an hour after convening. Judge Stephen Tabor said court would be back in session at 9am Wednesday morning and could rap up sometime in the afternoon. The jury could begin deliberations as early as Wednesday afternoon.