Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 1:30 pm

MPD Officer Terry Spence testifies Tuesday morning about the crash scene where Detective Sgt. Ron Killings struck pedestrian Lakeisha White. TMP/M. Willard

A grandmother whose 11-year-old granddaughter died after being hit by former sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Ron Killings cried out in the courtroom when Killings pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide Tuesday morning.

Grandmother Brenda Carneal responded.

“Oh my God,” Carneal said. “I’m the grandmother.”

An upset Carneal walked out of the courtroom.

Before the trial started, Circuit Court Judge David Bragg asked spectators to remain quiet or leave the courtroom. Carneal was not in the courtroom when Bragg made the statement.

A jury of 10 women and four men from Hamilton County are hearing testimony about the crash leading to Killings’ reckless homicide charge. The jurors were chosen from Hamilton County because of pretrial publicity. Two of the jurors are alternates and will be dismissed at the end of the trial.

During opening statements, prosecutor Joe Baugh said victim Lakeisha White, 11, was struck by Killings’ patrol car July 17, 2008 near 1440 Bradyville Pike.

Lakeisha was hit with such force the air bag deployed and the front of the car crumpled, he said.

Killings was driving more than 70 mph in a 30 mph speed zone when the crash occurred, the prosecutor said. He didn’t have on the flashing lights or siren and talked on the cell phone.

“The state’s theory is that he was not paying attention,” Baugh said, later adding, his disregard was reckless conduct.

He asked jurors to listen to Killings’ statement to Murfreesboro Police where he willingly misrepresented his speed and actions.

Even though he was on-duty, Baugh said the law applies to everyone.

“If he was reckless, he should be held to the same standard as anyone else,” Baugh said.

Defense attorney Terry Fann said Lakeisha darted out in front of Killings.

“There was no time to react,” Fann said, later adding, “The testimony will be it was an accident, purely an accident.”

Killings was responded to a call from another detective on a stakeout for burglary suspects who invaded a home and asked Killings to “step it up.” Killings sped up.

“Speed is not going to be an issue,” Fann said, explaining he responded to help another detective. “She darted out in front of Sgt. Killings and there was nothing he could do. It was a tragedy.”

First witness Terry Spence took the photographs showing blood spots, a flip-flop in the road and the damage to Killings’ car.

Fann asked him if he expected other officers to speed if he needed back up.

“Yes,” Spence replied.

During the afternoon testimony, Murfreesboro Police Sgt. Shawn Murphy, then assistant commander of the Fatal Accident Crash Team, testified there was no suspicion of alcohol on Killings but as part of the routine, he agreed to give a blood sample.

Murphy treated the crash as a critical stress incident and asked police to retrieve the blood from Killings at the emergency room and take him to the sheriff’s office.

A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation report showed Killings was not drinking or using drugs.

Murphy remembered hearing Killings talked on his cell phone at the time of the crash.

Then-FACT Commander Sgt. Sam Campbell testified he tried to find the point of impact but couldn’t. The point of impact allows investigators to calculate distances.

He asked the Tennessee Highway Patrol to examine the computer in Killings’ car but the software was not available at the time of the crash.

Campbell interviewed Killings the week after the crash. Campbell and Baugh read the transcript to jurors.

Killings told Campbell he was responding to Detective Steve Brown’s call to “step it up” for a burglary investigation. Killings said he didn’t see the girl until she was “looking at me in my windshield.”

He called for an ambulance, then ran to the front but couldn’t find her. She was at the side of the car. He told Campbell he checked her pulse, ran to his trunk to get a medical bag and ran back, covering her with some clothes or blanket. He yelled to see if any of the bystanders knew where she lived.

Killings said he ran to different houses to see if anybody knew her. He realized he left his trunk open with guns inside so he ran to close the trunk.

When Campbell asked his speed, Killings replied about 40 to 45 mph.

As part of the investigation, Campbell sent the headlights of Killings’ car to the TBI for analysis. The examination showed the headlights were on low beam.

Fann asked if there was evidence Killings left his lane.

“No,” Campbell replied.

Fann asked if he interviewed two children who saw the crash.

Campbell said he set up the interview but was placed on administrative leave and didn’t interview them.

Fann asked if the investigation showed Lakeisha darted in front of Killings.

“Yes,” Campbell said.

Fann asked if there was any indication Killings saw her.

“None that we could find at the scene,” Campbell replied.

Baugh asked if Killings told him he went from causing the accident into police mode and if it was clear he caused the accident.

“According to the statement,” Campbell replied.

Killings never said the child caused the accident, Campbell said.

Murfreesboro Officer Clayton Williams said he helped measure the road and the car but didn’t know the measurements because the report was taken by the administration.

Testimony resumes at 9 a.m. Wednesday.