Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) After a delay in getting started this morning, the final witness has taken the stand in the William Kenyon murder trial. The jury has been sent home for the night, and closing arguments are set for tomorrow.
With an update, here's Action News reporter Matt Markham at the live desk.
That delay came early this morning. Defense attorney Michael Mullen asked the judge to permit his witness to view tissue slides from Kelly Wescott's autopsy.
The prosecution called that an "out-of-the-blue" request, the microscopic slides were not requested in the defense's original demand from the prosecution. But, the judge decided to allow it.
Usually, requests like this need to be filed within thirty days of arraignment, or at the latest before jury selection.
After taking a few hours to review those tissue slides, Dr. Elliot Gross did not disagree with nthe coroner's autopsy, or a possible diagnosis of death by asphyxiation. He did say that drugs could have played a role.
The judge denied a request by the defense for the jury to consider a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide. The prosecution is asking for a charge of manslaughter in the first degree, but would settle for second degree.
With that, closing arguments begin in the morning.
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