The trial involving a man accused of driving drunk and killing State Senator James Rhoades continued Thursday in Monroe County.
The defense called more than 10 witnesses to the stand to prove Thomas Senavitis was not drunk behind the wheel and that he didn't cause the crash.
Police said Senavitis was driving drunk when his pick-up truck hit a car, killing State Senator Rhoades.
The prosecution continued calling its final group of witnesses to the stand to testify against Thomas Senavitis, 46, of Kunkletown.
Those witnesses include a medical examiner and a state trooper.
In October 2008, state police said Senavitis was driving drunk when his truck collided with Senator Rhoades' car on Route 209 near Brodheadsville.
One of the first witnesses to take the stand was the medical examiner who examined Senavitis' blood.
"Based on my calculations on his total body of water, it comes out to 10 12-ounce cans of standard American beer," said medical examiner Dr. Isidor Mihalakis.
A forensic pathologist explained to the jury about the autopsy done on Senator Rhoades' body. She said she found a low dosage of an anti-depressant drug in his system and nothing else.
A state trooper testified the truck Senavitis was driving entered the opposite lane of traffic.
The trooper also told the jury about his interview with Senavitis, days after the crash.
He told the jury Senavitis admitted to consuming one beer a few hours before the crash and that when he was driving on Route 209, he looked up and saw a vehicle in his lane.
The defense called two people who used to work with Senavitis at Midas in East Stroudsburg. Both testified they never smelled alcohol on Senavitis.
The defense is arguing Senavitis was not drunk when the crash occurred and that he stayed on his side of the road.
"We're going to hear our defense expert accident re-constructionist. He's a certified engineer and this is what he does. We're going to hear him testify as to what actually happened," said defense attorney Chandra Bleice.
"We're trying to be sure the evidence is tested appropriately and the jury is equipped with the tools to properly decide the case," said defense attorney Wieslaw Niemoczynski.
The defense is bringing in its accident reconstruction professional to testify Friday morning.
The closing arguments are expected to begin Friday afternoon.
The defense called more than 10 witnesses to the stand to prove Thomas Senavitis was not drunk behind the wheel and that he didn't cause the crash.
Police said Senavitis was driving drunk when his pick-up truck hit a car, killing State Senator Rhoades.
The prosecution continued calling its final group of witnesses to the stand to testify against Thomas Senavitis, 46, of Kunkletown.
Those witnesses include a medical examiner and a state trooper.
In October 2008, state police said Senavitis was driving drunk when his truck collided with Senator Rhoades' car on Route 209 near Brodheadsville.
One of the first witnesses to take the stand was the medical examiner who examined Senavitis' blood.
"Based on my calculations on his total body of water, it comes out to 10 12-ounce cans of standard American beer," said medical examiner Dr. Isidor Mihalakis.
A forensic pathologist explained to the jury about the autopsy done on Senator Rhoades' body. She said she found a low dosage of an anti-depressant drug in his system and nothing else.
A state trooper testified the truck Senavitis was driving entered the opposite lane of traffic.
The trooper also told the jury about his interview with Senavitis, days after the crash.
He told the jury Senavitis admitted to consuming one beer a few hours before the crash and that when he was driving on Route 209, he looked up and saw a vehicle in his lane.
The defense called two people who used to work with Senavitis at Midas in East Stroudsburg. Both testified they never smelled alcohol on Senavitis.
The defense is arguing Senavitis was not drunk when the crash occurred and that he stayed on his side of the road.
"We're going to hear our defense expert accident re-constructionist. He's a certified engineer and this is what he does. We're going to hear him testify as to what actually happened," said defense attorney Chandra Bleice.
"We're trying to be sure the evidence is tested appropriately and the jury is equipped with the tools to properly decide the case," said defense attorney Wieslaw Niemoczynski.
The defense is bringing in its accident reconstruction professional to testify Friday morning.
The closing arguments are expected to begin Friday afternoon.
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