Killings trial ends in tears for both sides on The Murfreesboro Post

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Killings trial ends in tears for both sides

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By: LISA MARCHESONI, Post Senior Writer

Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010 7:15 am

Killings trial ends in tears for both sides | Killings Trial, Crime

Former Rutherford County Detective Sgt. Ron Killings shares a word with Detective Steve Brown. Killings was en route to back up Brown when he hit Lakieisha White. TMP/L. Marchesoni

Tears were shed by the aunt of an 11-year-old girl killed in a crash and by the family of a former sheriff’s detective who collided with her when jurors found him not guilty of her death Thursday.

Aunt Kim Coleman collapsed into sobs after jurors found former Detective Sgt. Ron Killings not guilty in the traffic crash of her niece Lakeisha White of Hopkinsville, Ky.

Sheriff’s detectives bowed their heads as tears slipped from their eyes. Killings embraced his wife and left the courtroom to observe his 44th birthday.

Because of pretrial publicity, the jury was chosen from Hamilton County to hear the case. The nine-woman, three-man jury deliberated less than one hour before returning the guilty verdict to Circuit Court Judge David Bragg.

Killings resigned from the sheriff’s office when he was charged with reckless homicide of Lakeisha, who died after being struck by his patrol car July 17, 2008 on Bradyville Pike.

The former detective still faces trial for charges of tampering with evidence after Murfreesboro Police Sgt. Sam Campbell accused him of disposing of a bottle of alcohol and filing a false report by giving a false statement during the investigation.

Bragg said he will place the two remaining charges on the docket to set a trial date.

During the trial, special prosecutor Joe Baugh told jurors Killings was distracted when the cruiser struck Lakeisha.

Defense attorney Terry Fann told jurors Lakeisha darted into Killings’ path while he drove to back up another officer.

State witnesses
In a statement to Sgt. Sam Campbell, Killings said he didn’t see Lakeisha until she looked at him through the windshield of his patrol car. He estimated he drove about 40 to 45 mph in the 30 mph speed zone about 8:45 p.m. en route to back up Detective Steve Brown, who was dealing with suspects in a home invasion.

Killings didn’t use his blue lights and siren because he didn’t want to alert the burglary suspects.

Campbell testified he concluded Lakeisha darted into Killings’ lane.

Witness Cheryl Davis Bigsby said she heard sounds of a crash but didn’t see the impact. She ran over to Lakeisha. Killings threw coveralls over her but didn’t do cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the child.

Rayvon Watkins, 10, Lakeisha’s cousin, testified he turned so he didn’t see the car hit her.

Rayneshia Coleman, 10, another one of Lakeisha’s cousins, testified she turned back to Lakeisha’s brother and didn’t see the crash.

Former La Vergne Police Cpl. Jerri Lynn Champion testified she was talking with Killings on the cell phone at the time of the crash when she heard him curse and the phone call ended.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Allan Brenneis testified the patrol car computer showed Killings was driving 62 mph when the air bag deployed. He listed speed and Lakeisha running into Killings’ path as contributing factors.

Brenneis said he should have included the cellular telephone as another factor in the crash.

Defense witnesses
Carolyn Smotherman testified she saw Lakeisha crouch down and run into Killings’ path.

Detective Brown said he located two suspects from a home invasion two days earlier who tried to steal TVs while a mother and son slept. Four other men were with the suspects.

“What are my chances, me by myself with six people?” Brown asked.

He used his Nextel to ask Killings to “step it up” to back him up.

Killings testified he talked to Champion on the speaker with the phone in his lap as he drove to back up Brown. When Brown told him to “step it up,” he sped up on Bradyville Pike. He didn’t use lights or siren to alert the suspects.

“At that point, my air bag exploded,” Killings said as he choked with emotion and cried. “I saw a little girl’s face” on the windshield.

Killings maintained he kept both hands on the steering wheel and his eyes on his lane but didn’t see Lakeisha running.

“I was trying to get to Steve,” Killings said.

Baugh asked if he was justified in his actions.

“Yes sir,” Killings replied. “I was speeding to back up an officer.”

Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under Crime, Killings Trial

Member Opinions:

By: sarobbins1973 on 2/21/10
It was a fair trial , sad situation but the man was doing his job ! With or without the liquor bottles being throw away , the girl would still be dead . These men put there lives on the line everyday and we should thank them ..........