KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) -The prosecution has rested and the defense has opted not to call any witnesses, apparently abandoning the idea of attempting an insanity defense to derail the conviction of Charles Pickett Jr.
Judge Paul Bridenstine asked Pickett if he wanted to testify and he replied ‘no’.
Day three of the Charles Pickett Jr. murder trial began with a pathologist reporting on the injuries that were sustained by the five people who did not survive Kalamazoo’s biking tragedy. It was quite detailed and disturbing.
The key witness of the morning may have been Pamela Barletta, a friend of Pickett’s who had attended his cousin’s funeral with him earlier that day. She testified that Pickett was upset about a lot of things that day and depressed and wanted her to stay, but she really wanted to go home, which sparked an argument.
She testified that she watched him wash down a handful of pills, heard him say that “he just as soon be dead” then watched him peel out of the motel parking lot. She said it was the last time she saw him until she saw him in court this morning.
Other witnesses included one of the detectives who interviewed Pickett about his drug use, and several drivers who encountered Pickett and his Blue Chevy Pickett and observed the erratic, intimidating and dangerous driving that took place across town in the 25-minutes prior to the collision with the group of bikers.
The prosecution has to establish that Pickett was exhibiting a reckless disregard of life to demonstrate that it was second degree murder, and not just driving while intoxicated that resulted in the deaths.
One driver, Craig Butler says he looked over at Pickett and saw he was smiling as he shot past him in the bike lane of Nichols Road as they approached West Main.
The Jury has been given four days off and the trial will resume Tuesday morning with closing arguments.
