Coates' defense claims co-defendant turned witness committed murder
NORWICH – The trial for the murder of David Green commenced Monday with accusations of guilt made by attorney's on both sides of the courtroom.
The prosecution claims Jeremy Coates murdered Green, but the defense is arguing the true culprit was another person arrested in the case, Melissa Crispell. She is expected to testify against her co-defendant after accepting a plea deal. At a previous evidence hearing Crispell testified she witnessed Coates kill Green by striking him in the back of the head.
Monday afternoon the murder trial began with opening statements as District Attorney Joseph McBride and Public Defender John Cameron presented very different versions of what took place on the night Green was killed. Judge Frank Revoir said the trial will likely take two weeks.
McBride said Coates killed Green, but the defense is arguing the prosecution's key witness, Crispell, was the only one whose DNA and fingerprints were in the home and on the murder weapon.
Coates, 47, was initially charged with first-degree murder, assault, and robbery on September 23, 2016. He pleaded not guilty.
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.
She pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. Cameron said Crispell was motivated to testify against his client so she could avoid a potential 50 year sentence for second-degree murder.
Crispell is now facing up to 25 years in prison. She will be sentenced after she has testified at Coates' trial.
On Monday, McBride finished his opening arguments with a description of his upcoming evidence.
McBride told the court Coates and Crispell planned to rob David Green of his money and firearms on September 23, 2016. The D.A. said he would present a series of text messages into evidence showing the two making robbery plans.
McBride recalled one text by Crispell in court, "'Are we going to hit the house tonight?'"
To which Coates allegedly replied, "Why are you talking about this on the phone?"
From inside the victim's home Coates later sent another text message asking her, ""When are you going to do it,"" said McBride.
According to McBride, Coates kicked Green in the head, and Crispell fled outside.
McBride said Green's last words to the two defendants involved owed money. McBride said the victim's last words were, "'Why are you doing this to me?'"
McBride said Coates then killed Green by striking him 20 times with a piece of slate.
McBride claimed Coates cleaned the house of evidence. Though investigators found physical DNA and fingerprint evidence linking Crispell to the murder, and Cameron said none was found involving Coates.
The two left the property with six long guns, and two handguns, then headed off to a laundromat in Norwich, said McBride.
After killing Green, McBride said there is surveillance video of the two entering the laundromat in Norwich and "making out" while they were in the building along with a recording of the two collecting newspapers to burn evidence.
They then went to a nearby state park to burn evidence, said McBride.
According to McBride, Coates's roommate, Randy Buck harbored stolen firearms from Green's home. He is receiving immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony about Coates.
McBride said Buck will testify that Coates said Green shot him in the knee, and that's why he killed him. They did medical testing on Coates afterwards, and found that he hadn't been shot.
Cameron disagreed with McBride's version of events.
"Jeremy Coates did not kill David Green. He did not lay a hand on him, or inflict any of these injuries," said Cameron.
"There is no physical evidence that Jeremy Coates committed this crime because he was not there," he said. "Crispell had the motive, means, and opportunity to kill Green."
According to Cameron, Crispell is testifying against Coates to receive a reduced sentence.
He added that Crispell's fingerprints were at the crime scene, and on the murder weapon used to kill Green, but Coates' were not.
According to Cameron, Green was owed money and had a sexual interest in Crispell, who was involved with Coates.
"You'll find that the prosecution's case brings more questions then answers," Cameron said.
More witnesses will be called by the prosecution Tuesday. Read more about it in the following editions of The Evening Sun.
Pictured: Murder trial defendant Jeremy Coates discussing the trial with two of his defense attorneys, Zachary Wentworth and James Cameron. (Fox 40 WICZ TV, Amy Hogan Photo)
The prosecution claims Jeremy Coates murdered Green, but the defense is arguing the true culprit was another person arrested in the case, Melissa Crispell. She is expected to testify against her co-defendant after accepting a plea deal. At a previous evidence hearing Crispell testified she witnessed Coates kill Green by striking him in the back of the head.
Monday afternoon the murder trial began with opening statements as District Attorney Joseph McBride and Public Defender John Cameron presented very different versions of what took place on the night Green was killed. Judge Frank Revoir said the trial will likely take two weeks.
McBride said Coates killed Green, but the defense is arguing the prosecution's key witness, Crispell, was the only one whose DNA and fingerprints were in the home and on the murder weapon.
Coates, 47, was initially charged with first-degree murder, assault, and robbery on September 23, 2016. He pleaded not guilty.
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.
She pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. Cameron said Crispell was motivated to testify against his client so she could avoid a potential 50 year sentence for second-degree murder.
Crispell is now facing up to 25 years in prison. She will be sentenced after she has testified at Coates' trial.
On Monday, McBride finished his opening arguments with a description of his upcoming evidence.
McBride told the court Coates and Crispell planned to rob David Green of his money and firearms on September 23, 2016. The D.A. said he would present a series of text messages into evidence showing the two making robbery plans.
McBride recalled one text by Crispell in court, "'Are we going to hit the house tonight?'"
To which Coates allegedly replied, "Why are you talking about this on the phone?"
From inside the victim's home Coates later sent another text message asking her, ""When are you going to do it,"" said McBride.
According to McBride, Coates kicked Green in the head, and Crispell fled outside.
McBride said Green's last words to the two defendants involved owed money. McBride said the victim's last words were, "'Why are you doing this to me?'"
McBride said Coates then killed Green by striking him 20 times with a piece of slate.
McBride claimed Coates cleaned the house of evidence. Though investigators found physical DNA and fingerprint evidence linking Crispell to the murder, and Cameron said none was found involving Coates.
The two left the property with six long guns, and two handguns, then headed off to a laundromat in Norwich, said McBride.
After killing Green, McBride said there is surveillance video of the two entering the laundromat in Norwich and "making out" while they were in the building along with a recording of the two collecting newspapers to burn evidence.
They then went to a nearby state park to burn evidence, said McBride.
According to McBride, Coates's roommate, Randy Buck harbored stolen firearms from Green's home. He is receiving immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony about Coates.
McBride said Buck will testify that Coates said Green shot him in the knee, and that's why he killed him. They did medical testing on Coates afterwards, and found that he hadn't been shot.
Cameron disagreed with McBride's version of events.
"Jeremy Coates did not kill David Green. He did not lay a hand on him, or inflict any of these injuries," said Cameron.
"There is no physical evidence that Jeremy Coates committed this crime because he was not there," he said. "Crispell had the motive, means, and opportunity to kill Green."
According to Cameron, Crispell is testifying against Coates to receive a reduced sentence.
He added that Crispell's fingerprints were at the crime scene, and on the murder weapon used to kill Green, but Coates' were not.
According to Cameron, Green was owed money and had a sexual interest in Crispell, who was involved with Coates.
"You'll find that the prosecution's case brings more questions then answers," Cameron said.
More witnesses will be called by the prosecution Tuesday. Read more about it in the following editions of The Evening Sun.
Pictured: Murder trial defendant Jeremy Coates discussing the trial with two of his defense attorneys, Zachary Wentworth and James Cameron. (Fox 40 WICZ TV, Amy Hogan Photo)
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