UPDATE: Murder case hinges on GPS Evidence
In fact, the girl was on remote, seasonal Will Warner Road in Otselic at about 3 a.m. July 8 when she was run over, according to the GPS. The unit also indicates Ford’s truck was parked by an abandoned house up the hill for about three hours earlier, police have said.
On Monday, Chenango County Det.-Sgt. Richard Cobb testified that Ford told him he struck the girl accidentally while making a K-turn in the dark, then found her under his front left tire when he got out to lock his hubs into four-wheel drive.
“He told me it felt like there was a rock in her head,” said Cobb.
Outside the courtroom Wednesday, Scharf said Ford has opted for a bench trial to avoid the passion of a jury trial.
“The death of a child is so emotional, it makes it hard for jurors to reason, Â’ he said. “If this were a jury trial, we’d be seeing a lot of photographs of Shyanne’s body, meant to get to your emotions, but not to the facts.”
During Wednesday’s brief session, Scharf stipulated that a state police expert has confirmed that tire tracks found by the abandoned house match the tread design of Ford’s tires.
Scharf said he believes this is the first time a murder case has hinged on GPS evidence.
“Without it, they charged him with first-degree reckless endangerment,” he said, “so from that aspect, this case is very unusual.
“We just heard from the Discovery Channel last night because they may want to do something with it,” Scharf added.
Shyanne’s parents, James and Kathryn Somers, have not been allowed inside the courtroom, as they may be called to testify. Other family members said Wednesday that they were disappointed the case was delayed, as the family yearns for closure.
Ford is being held at the Chenango County jail without bail. He is charged with second-degree murder, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of 25 years-to-life in prison.
Source:http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_036040041.html
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Tags: Chenango, GPS Tracking, Murder Case
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