JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Prosecutors continued presenting witnesses in their first-degree murder case against Lance Kirkpatrick, who is accused of killing the wife of a firefighter in 2012. The defense is expected to argue Kim Dorsey died during a sexually-charged fight, and that her slaying was not premeditated.
Court adjourned for the day late Friday. The state is expected to conclude its case when the trial resumes Monday morning, then Kirkpatrick is expected to testify for the defense.
Prosecutors said Kirkpatrick knew Dorsey and her husband and broke into the couples' home and raped and murdered Dorsey in November 2012 while her husband was away.
Prosecutors said Kirkpatrick used a pool cue and a knife to kill her.
But defense lawyers argued the two had a sexual relationship and a fight led to her death. They said Kirkpatrick did not intend to kill Dorsey.
That difference could affect whether Kirkpatrick could face the death penalty.
In testimony Friday, a Duval County jail inmate testified that he was with Kirkpatrick in the days before Dorsey's murder, attending a party where people were drinking and getting high. The inmate, Terry Norris, said he gave Kirkpatrick $200 to go buy drugs and he had returned with about $40 worth of drugs and "appeared to be high."
Three detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office also testified Friday, talking about evidence at the crime scene, including finding Dorsey's cell phone in a sink full of water. While little data could be recovered, there was record of a few calls received the day she killed -- one from a blocked number.