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A medical examiner and forensics experts testified Tuesday at the murder trial of an Elmira man charged with killing a 26-year-old Corning resident during a drug-related robbery last June.
Dr. Caroline Dignan testified Tuesday that Clark VanEtten died as the result of two puncture wounds to his chest. He also had several other wounds on his body when he died, she said.
VanEtten was killed by 39-year-old Marland Brooks on June 18 at VanEtten’s Park Avenue apartment. Brooks admits killing VanEtten but claims he did so in self-defense.
Dignan also told the Steuben County Court jury that VanEtten had a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 percent when he died.
District Attorney Brooks Baker also called several forensic experts to the stand Tuesday. They testified about blood evidence.
VanEtten’s blood was found on Brooks’ clothes and the truck he was riding in after the killing, authorities have said.
The prosecution contends Brooks killed VanEtten because Brooks’ girlfriend needed money to repay a drug debt – the day prior, Samantha N. Smith stole money from another man and used it to buy crack cocaine, authorities said.
VanEtten had given Smith money in the past, so she contacted him and promised to deliver him cocaine in return for $200, according to Baker.
Smith arrived at VanEtten’s home with Brooks and another man, and she went inside alone, according to authorities. She did not have any drugs to trade, and VanEtten refused to give her any money, authorities said.
After awhile, Brooks went inside, where the three shared several beers, Baker said. Sometime during the conversation, Brooks got a knife from inside VanEtten’s residence, Baker said.
Soon after, Brooks walked over to VanEtten, who was on the couch, and punched him, the prosecution contends. VanEtten attempted to fight back, at which time Brooks stabbed him, Baker said.
After the stabbing, Brooks stole VanEtten’s wallet and fled, Baker said.
Defense attorney David Morabito said in opening statements that VanEtten initiated the fight and was the one armed with the knife. He said Brooks wrestled it away from VanEtten and stabbed the man in self-defense.
Morabito told the jury Brooks fled the house before his girlfriend, and suggested Smith may have been the one who caused the fatal wounds.
Smith agreed to truthfully testify for the prosecution in exchange for a 10-year sentence for robbery.
The trial will continue today.
A medical examiner and forensics experts testified Tuesday at the murder trial of an Elmira man charged with killing a 26-year-old Corning resident during a drug-related robbery last June.
Dr. Caroline Dignan testified Tuesday that Clark VanEtten died as the result of two puncture wounds to his chest. He also had several other wounds on his body when he died, she said.
VanEtten was killed by 39-year-old Marland Brooks on June 18 at VanEtten’s Park Avenue apartment. Brooks admits killing VanEtten but claims he did so in self-defense.
Dignan also told the Steuben County Court jury that VanEtten had a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 percent when he died.
District Attorney Brooks Baker also called several forensic experts to the stand Tuesday. They testified about blood evidence.
VanEtten’s blood was found on Brooks’ clothes and the truck he was riding in after the killing, authorities have said.
The prosecution contends Brooks killed VanEtten because Brooks’ girlfriend needed money to repay a drug debt – the day prior, Samantha N. Smith stole money from another man and used it to buy crack cocaine, authorities said.
VanEtten had given Smith money in the past, so she contacted him and promised to deliver him cocaine in return for $200, according to Baker.
Smith arrived at VanEtten’s home with Brooks and another man, and she went inside alone, according to authorities. She did not have any drugs to trade, and VanEtten refused to give her any money, authorities said.
After awhile, Brooks went inside, where the three shared several beers, Baker said. Sometime during the conversation, Brooks got a knife from inside VanEtten’s residence, Baker said.
Soon after, Brooks walked over to VanEtten, who was on the couch, and punched him, the prosecution contends. VanEtten attempted to fight back, at which time Brooks stabbed him, Baker said.
After the stabbing, Brooks stole VanEtten’s wallet and fled, Baker said.
Defense attorney David Morabito said in opening statements that VanEtten initiated the fight and was the one armed with the knife. He said Brooks wrestled it away from VanEtten and stabbed the man in self-defense.
Morabito told the jury Brooks fled the house before his girlfriend, and suggested Smith may have been the one who caused the fatal wounds.
Smith agreed to truthfully testify for the prosecution in exchange for a 10-year sentence for robbery.
The trial will continue today.
