Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch holds up the gun that he said William Morva took from Montgomery County sheriff's deputy Russell Quesenberry and used to shoot Derrick McFarland and Eric Sutphin, Finch said.
William Morva's trial has kicked off with opening statements presented by Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch and defense attorney Tom Blaylock.
One witness, Montgomery County sheriff's deputy Russell Quesenberry, has testified, taking the stand for about an hour before court broke for lunch.
In his opening statement, Finch told jurors that the evidence will show that Morva "violently beat and attacked" Quesenberry, who had transported him to the hospital early the morning of Aug. 20, 2006, after he reported injuries in his jail cell.
Morva asked to use a bathroom at Montgomery Regional Hospital, Finch said, and "it was in that bathroom that the defendant began his deadly escape."
He beat Quesenberry unconscious, shot unarmed security guard Derrick McFarland in the face from about two feet away and later shot Cpl. Eric Sutphin in the back of the head, Finch said.
After Morva broke out of the hospital, shooting his way through its glass doors, "a major manhunt ensued," Finch said. "We had a killer on the run."
Evidence showed that Morva had run toward the Huckleberry Trail, he said.
Sutphin, "one of the many brave police officers" who searched for Morva, went down the trail on his bicycle.
About 7 a.m., Sutphin was shot in the back of the head on the trail. Sutphin's gun was still in its holster, which was still snapped shut, Finch said.
After Sutphin was found, Finch said, the manhunt became more intense. "He still had that gun," he said of Morva.
Morva was found later that day, flat on his back in a thicket near the trail. Quesenberry's gun was under his shoulder.
Morva told officers, "Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your friend," Finch said.
Finch showed jurors pictures of Quesenberry before and after he was beaten, and pictures of McFarland and Sutphin before and after they had been shot.
Finch continued, saying the bullet shell casings found near both men's bodies were analyzed and found to be from Quesenberry's gun. Morva's DNA was on that gun, he said.
"This is a case," he told the jury, "about a prisoner who would stop at nothing in the course of an escape."
Comments
[March 6, 2008 10:41 PM]
Roger E. HarrisThere should be a memorial for Cpl. Sutphin at the site of his death to honor him and all law enforcement officers who put their lives at risk for the communities they serve. In light of what we know about Morva, who can doubt that if Sutphin had not put himself in that position that at least one other person would have been killed before Morva was captured?
In light of what we know about Cpl. Sutphin's prior experiences, who can doubt that he clearly recognized the risks he was taking by being alone as he searched for a murderer. I doubt he was even being paid at the time, since he was alone. Most bicycle patrols are conducted in pairs.
Let's honor Cpl. Sutphin with a Memorial on the Sutphin/Huckleberry Trail.
[March 7, 2008 1:27 PM]
Katherine EmoryIt is a crying shame that this judge seems inclined to allow whatever the defense asks. We are in the process of trying (which is unfortunately costing the Commonwealth a great deal of money) an individual who is clearly guilty of heinous crimes; and yet, those who wish to show tribute to the public servants who forfeited their lives in the process of protecting the community are being disallowed from the courtroom. America, what is wrong with this picture? Our judicial system needs to be revamped in favor of the victim not the criminal.
[March 8, 2008 9:47 AM]
MandieOur judicial system should not be "revamped" in favor of anyone. It should be fair.
[March 10, 2008 1:45 PM]
LoriThat's correct, Mandie. People seem to think that our system is to the benefit of the offender, not the victim, which is terribly wrong. People seem to think of the judicial system as they see it on TV or in movies, where a defense attorney is only going for one thing -- acquittal, and cares nothing of anyone but himself. Real life is quite the opposite. A good defense attorney's main job is to keep things fair by making sure that all rules of evidence established by the legislature and Supreme Court are followed.
The continuing updates provide a better picture of this case. The defense is using the tactic that Mr. Morva is innocent, in fact attorney Tom Blaylock admitted Mr. Morva's guilt in his opening. What they are trying to do is spare him from the death chamber, which is really all that they can do given the incontrovertible evidence in this case.