Swift trial day 7: State and defense present their closing arguments
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
- More witnesses take the stand in day 3 of Swift murder trial
- Day four of the Swift trial: Investigators share evidence results
- Swift trial day 5: Expert shares David’s phone activity on the morning of Karen’s disappearance
- Swift trial day 6: Children of David and Karen Swift testify
- Defense calls final witness to the stand as Swift trial nears end
DRESDEN, Tenn. — It’s been seven days of trial in the case of The State of Tennessee versus David Swift, who is accused of murdering his wife more than a decade ago.
The state and the defense presented closing statements in the Swift murder trial Wednesday.
Now, it is up to the jury to decide whether Swift will be found guilty or not for the murder of Karen Swift.
The prosecutor said it is impossible to know the exact manner or mechanism of Karen’s death.
He said, according to the medical examiner, her body was too decomposed to tell.
“Given the physical evidence we have, it is likely David strangled Karen, dragged her body to the garage and ended her life– if she wasn’t already dead, with a blow to the head. However, to prove David killed Karen the state is not required to prove the exact means of Karen’s death beyond a reasonable doubt. What we are required to prove is who killed Karen beyond a reasonable doubt. Who, not how, is the decision you’ll have to make here,” said Danny Goodman, the prosecutor.
The State says that Swift was the sole person who had the means, motive and opportunity to murder Karen the night she came home at 2 a.m. from a Halloween party with close friends.
Defense Attorney, Daniel Taylor, says Swift did not murder Karen and he points out there is no forensic evidence that links David to the murder.
He says Swift could not have done it because of a knee injury at the time of the incident.
Multiple witnesses and friends of Karen’s testified saying David’s controlling behavior was quote “creepy” and “unwanted”.
“We talked earlier about when somebody– you’re in a relationship and somebody you believed is not being honest with you, sometimes you want to find out. You check on them, you ask them questions, and sometimes that happens. There’s no violence. There may be questions accountability. ‘Hey where you going?’ It may get on the other one’s nerves,” said Taylor.
Karen’s disappearance and murder came just weeks after she filed for a divorce.
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