Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2010 6:29 pm

Former Sgt. Ron Killings shares a word with Detective Steve Brown. Killings was en route to back up Brown when he collided with Lakieisha White.

Jurors handed former sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Ron Killings a birthday present when they found him not guilty of reckless homicide Thursday night.

After the verdict, Killings hugged co-workers and friends and left to observe his 44th birthday.

A Hamilton County jury of nine women and three men deliberated about 55 minutes before returning the not guilty verdict accepted by Circuit Court Judge David Bragg.

Killings was charged in the death of Lakeisha White, 11, of Hopkinsville, Ky., who died in the crash July 17, 2008 on Bradyville Pike while the on-duty detective was backing up another detective who asked him to “step it up.”

Her aunt sobbed and collapsed moments after jurors left the courtroom.

Defense attorney Terry Fann said Killings was “very excited, very relieved. We’re so proud the system really does work.”

After hearing the verdict, Killings thanked Fann and attorney Ben Parsley.

When asked what made the difference in the verdict, Fann said, “I really think they paid attention and understood from the beginning there was nothing Sgt. Killings could have done to prevent this accident.”

The verdict solidified their belief in the jury system, he said.

“This has been a tedious, exhausting roller coaster for not only Sgt. Killings’ family but for everyone involved,” Fann said. “We’re relieved with the not guilty verdict. This is the first time Detective Killings has gotten any good news in awhile.”

Prosecutor Joe Baugh said he doesn’t want to second-guess the jury.

“My experience has always been the jury is right,” Baugh said.

The prosecution presented the best case it could, he said. He thought Judge Bragg did a good job presiding over the case.

“I’m sorry for Lakeisha White’s family’s anguish,” Baugh said.

During the trial, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Allan Brenneis testified Killings was driving 62 mph in a 30 mph speed zone when his air bag deployed.

Killings testified he didn’t know how fast he drove but explained he was en route to back up Detective Steve Brown who was investigating suspects from a home invasion and asked him to “step it up.”

Witnesses testified Lakeisha darted into his path.

During closing arguments, Baugh told jurors the issue was did Killings act with reckless or negligent behavior in Lakeisha’s death.

His speed was such Lakeisha dented the hood of the car and broke the windshield, the prosecutor said. He was talking on his cell phone and didn’t see Lakeisha.

“The law requires that you pay attention to the road in front of you,” Baugh said.

Fann told jurors Lakeisha ran in front of Killings, adding children do unpredictable things.

“This was nobody’s fault,” Fann said.

Fann said he didn’t like the speed but it was an acceptable police practice when backing up officers who need help.

“This was nobody’s fault,” Fann said.

He urged jurors to put the accident to rest the put the community at rest by finding Killings not guilty.

“A child was being a child,” Fann said. “A detective was doing his job.”

Baugh countered Fann wanted jurors to believe the rules don’t apply to Killings.

Killings told Murfreesboro Police Sgt. Sam Campbell it was his fault, the prosecutor said. He’s asking jurors to give him a pass.

“He shouldn’t get a pass if he was speeding or on the cell phone,” Baugh said, adding it was reckless for Killings not to use his siren and blue lights when driving 70 mph.

“If you want to let police have special rules, you can do that,” Baugh told jurors.

Someone who takes a life recklessly commits a crime, the prosecutor said.

“We should not recklessly take it away,” Baugh said.

Killings faces additional prosecution for tampering with evidence by allegedly disposing of a bottle of alcohol at the scene and for filing a false report in his interviews with Murfreesboro Police. Those cases have not been set.