KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — It was a full morning for the jury in the Charles Pickett Jr. murder trial as they heard from the four survivors of the horrible crash on North Westnedge that killed five other members of the Chain Gang bicycle club. None of them knew what hit them.
Jennifer Johnson, Paul Runnels, Paul Gobles and Sheila Jeske all testified that they have no memories of the crash itself. Johnson testified her first memories were of waking up in the ditch with her leg bent behind her shoulder, unable to move.
Gobles says his first memory after the crash came 12-days later, waking up at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation center on Father’s Day in braces from his neck to his feet.
All of them recited their numerous injuries in excruciating detail, discussing the surgeries they have survived and the surgeries yet to come.
All four listed their multiple injuries, which included broken backs, broken bones, ribs, concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
Several said to compound their misery they even contracted bad cases of poison ivy when they were thrown to the side of the road. All four have suffered recurring pain and are living and coping with conditions that they may never fully recover from.
Jennifer Johnson broke down emotionally on the stand when ask to identify other members of the group from photos taken at the scene after the crash; photos that were passed to the jury.
The Prosecution also called to the stand eyewitness Marcus Eberhard, who was just leaving Markin Glen park after a day of fishing when he was nearly hit by Pickett’s blue Chevy pickup, which was swerving from side to side as he was walking near the roadway.
He says he didn’t have a chance to yell out a warning to the cyclists before the truck plowed into them.
He says it was the worst thing he had ever seen.
Also testifying was Kasie Fieverkorn, who was in her garage near the crash scene, heard the metal on metal collision and ran to the location. She says she and another passerby called 911 for help and did what they could until EMT’s arrived.
She also remembered seeing Pickett standing by the disabled
They were also questioned by the defense, but none of the prosecution witnesses were challenged on cross examination.
The defense isn’t expected to contest what happened on June 7th on North Westnedge. Defense Attorney Keith Turpel made it clear in his opening statements that his case will rely on what was going on in Pickett’s mind at the time.
For now the Prosecution is laying the ground work, presenting all the facts and evidence in the case, in preparation for the arguments to come.
