NORWICH – The prosecution entered several objects allegedly used as weapons and containing the victim's blood into evidence Tuesday, including a battle-axe, a 75 pound rock tabletop, a hammer, and an ashtray.
District Attorney Joseph McBride called in his ninth witness since the trial started Tuesday in the Jeremy Coates murder trial, but co-defendant turned witness, Melissa Crispell, has yet to take the stand.
Investigators testified blood splatter on the living room ceiling indicated a weapon had been swung.
Other testimony reported the victim's keys were found in a burn pit at Whaupaunaucau State Forest where the defendant's allegedly disposed of evidence. Police also testified they seized evidence stolen from Green's home that was allegedly given to a roommate of Coates, including firearms and knives. The former roommate, Randy Buck, is scheduled to testify for the prosecution later in the trial that he received the items from Coates.
Coates, 47, was initially charged with first-degree murder, assault, and robbery on September 23, 2016, but has maintained his innocence.
Crispell, 43, was originally charged with second-degree murder – among other counts of assault and robbery – but she accepted a plea deal on May 12, 2017, reducing her max time to 15-to-25 years pending the conclusion of Coates' trial. She is required to testify as part of the deal, but has yet to be called to the witness stand.
New York State Police Investigator Jason Miller testified that photos depicting blood splatter, weapon locations, injuries on the victim's body, and the direction of the victim's blood trail were accurate representations of the crime scene upon his arrival.
Miller said the victim was upright when he was struck on the back of the head, and he noted that pieces of Green's battle-axe were scattered around the room covered in the victim's blood. He said the blood on the ceiling came from the swing of an object with blood on it.
According to Miller, some blood on the kitchen counter appeared to be "diluted," and he testified that there was blood found near the drain hole of Green's bathroom sink, along with blood found on the sink's underside.
