Front Row Seat

Front Row Seat
Fireworks tonight at 9:45 on TV-4

°

Homepage / Jacksonville News
Text Size

Defense Makes Case In Suspected Killer's Trial

POSTED: Monday, June 4, 2007
UPDATED: 7:37 pm EDT June 4, 2007

The trial of a suspected serial killer entered its third week on Monday with defense attorneys presenting their case.

Paul Durousseau is accused in seven slayings. According to investigators, he preyed on young women in Jacksonville between 1997 and 2003.

Durousseau is currently on trial on charges of killing 24-year-old Tyresa Mack -- a mother of three who was found dead inside her Eastside apartment in 1999.

In the past two weeks of the trial, prosecutors have presented evidence and said the other women's deaths had similar characteristics as Mack's killing.

On Monday, the defense began making its case by saying the different slayings have nothing to do with each other and that the evidence does not add up.

Defense attorney Ann Finnell pointed out several pieces of evidence from crime scenes that had been presented and were not from Mack's 1999 case.

Two other women's deaths were put front and center in court as the defense told the court the deaths of Shawanda McCalister and Nikia Kilpatrick were not similar to Mack's and therefore all three could not be connected.

The defense also presented a video that showed one of the victims at an ATM. Finnell highlighted the fact that the taxicab her client was allegedly driving was not seen waiting for the woman in the video.

Durousseau's attorney called to the stand a medical expert.

When Finnell asked the medical expert if there was anything consistent about the three killings that would allow him to say that one person was involved in all three of the cases, he answered no.

He also criticized the local medical examiner, saying the evidence was not properly analyzed.

The prosecutors said the defense medical expert ignored some of the medical examiner's findings before taking the stand.

The defense is expected to continue its case in Tuesday morning, and closing arguments could be presented that same afternoon.

Sponsored Links

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
There is no absolute number of drinks per day that defines alcoholism. Learn the behavior and body reactions that constitute alcoholism. More

By designing a great outdoor living space you can quickly enhance the value of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers. More

If you have aspirations of becoming a millionaire, check out these five habits that may be worth emulating. More

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

Most Popular