More witnesses take the stand in day 3 of Swift murder trial

FURTHER COVERAGE:

• Jury selected in State of Tennessee vs. David Swift trial
• Court reconvenes for day 2 of Swift murder trial
• Witnesses take the stand to testify in Swift murder trial
• Day 3 of Swift murder trial, friends of victim testify
• Day four of the Swift trial: Investigators share evidence results

JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s the second day of testimonies in the David Swift murder trial and the jury heard from more witnesses who shared their accounts of both Karen and David Swift’s character.

On day three of the swift trial witnesses were brought to the stand.

Jannie Helm, shared her memory between Karen and David swift.

Helm lived near friends of Karen Swift and says one night she found David Swift in her yard.

“He said ‘shhh’. I said ‘What?’ he said ‘I’m trying– I have a restraining order I can’t be in Cathy and Bill Bona’s yard. And I wanted to know if I could use your light inside your yard to watch over there’,” said Helm. “And what did you tell him?,” responded the attorney.

“I said there’s the fence,” said Helm. “You said what?” the attorney asked. “There’s the fence,” Helm responded.

“So you allowed him to look?,” asked the attorney.

“I said there’s the fence. It scared me I was scared,” Helm responded.

Helm also mentioned briefly seeing David Swift the night of Karen’s disappearance.

Jimmy Hancock, a close friend and former coworker, of David Swift was called to the stand to speak on David’s character.

Hancock recalls the day that David found out about the divorce papers.

“She left a note for him. To go and get the note and it had information about the things she wanted in a divorce and to go and pick up the divorce paperwork. At the – I don’t remember the attorney’s name- but to pick up the divorce paperwork. He was calm. He didn’t want a divorce,” said Hancock.

Swift’s lawyer built his case around David’s knee being injured, sharing that he couldn’t be responsible for Karen’s murder due to this injury.

Hancock says he was a witness to David’s doctor visits.

“He had an injury to his knee?” the attorney asked Hancock.

“Yes, I went to the doctor with him,” Hancock responded.

“Okay, did you observe him wearing crutches at this time?,” asked the attorney. “Yes,” said Hancock.

“Did you observe him during this time frame with an immobilizer on his left knee,” the attorney asked. “Yes,” Hancock repeated.

“Did you go with him to see the doctor after he reinjured himself,” asked the attorney.

“Yes,” responded Hancock.

This trial will continue on Friday, the jury will continue to hear from other witnesses.

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