Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:56 pm

Jurors hearing a reckless homicide case against a former sheriff’s detective will not hear evidence about alcohol, a judge ruled Monday.

Former Detective Sgt. Ron Killings is charged with the traffic death of Lakeisha White, 11, of Hopkinsville, Ky., in a crash July 17, 2008 on Bradyville Pike. Killings’ trial is scheduled Oct. 13.

In a Sept. 3 hearing, Circuit Court Judge David Bragg decided to try Killings on the reckless homicide charge separate from the alcohol-related charges of tampering with evidence and filing a false report since a blood-alcohol test showed alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

The tampering with evidence charge accused Killings of getting rid of alcohol and the false report charge accused him of lying to police investigating the crash.

Defense attorneys want to exclude evidence about alcohol in the homicide trial while a prosecutor wants to include evidence about alcohol.

Bragg ruled jurors will not hear about alcohol for the following reasons:

• The prosecution failed to show any proof the evidence is relevant.

• The introduction of alcohol could be unfair or confuse or mislead the jury.

During the Sept. 3 hearing, defense attorneys Terry Fann and Ben Parsley asked Bragg to remove testimony about the alcohol in the homicide trial because it would prejudice the jury against Killings.

Special prosecutor Joe Baugh argued Killings was negligent when he allegedly disposed of the alcohol rather than treating Lakeisha, who died later that night at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

In his argument, Baugh said jurors needed to hear the whole story. The reckless homicide case covers the recklessness of Killings who disposed of the alcohol rather than treat Lakeisha for her injuries.

Killings was the only person at the scene trained to provide emergency medical treatment and communicate the information to other emergency responders, the prosecutor said.

“Who knows if this child could have survived?” Baugh asked.

In his order, Bragg noted Baugh didn’t offer any proof to support his argument Killings’ actions created a risk leading to Lakeisha’s death.

Jury selection will begin Oct. 13.