Defense Makes Case In Suspected Killer's Trial

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.

Previous Stories:

• May 31, 2007: Prosecution Rests In Trial Of Suspected Killer
• May 24, 2007: Prosecution: DNA Links Defendant To Killing
• May 23, 2007: Trial Begins For Accused Serial Killer
• May 22, 2007: Jury Being Picked For Accused Serial Killer's First Trial
• September 4, 2003: Grand Jury Indicts Suspected Serial Killer For Sixth Murder
• August 27, 2003: Suspected Serial Killer Faces One More Murder Charge
• June 20, 2003: Suspected Serial Killer Once Drove School Bus
• June 19, 2003: Durousseau Indicted: 5 Counts Of First-Degree Murder
• June 18, 2003: Family Of Murder Victims Mourn June 18, 2003: Gator City Taxi President Comes To Town For Answers
• June 17, 2003: Father Of Murder Victim Knows Accused Killer
• June 17, 2003: Suspected Serial Killer Under Arrest