KDKA 2 - Station Info KDKA News Radio 1020 - Station Info 93-7 The Fan - Station Info Pittsburgh-CW-Logo

Latest News

Witnesses Give Emotional Testimony In Melvin Knight Trial

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

TrinaOrlando

Reporting Trina Orlando

GREENSBURG (KDKA) — At least two jurors were in tears Monday morning as they listened to Jennifer Daugherty’s family give emotional accounts of the day they saw her for the final time.

This was the last testimony before prosecutors rested their case.

The victim’s mother, stepfather and sister all took the stand telling the jury about 30-year-old Jennifer Daugherty.

Joy Burkholder shared details of the last time she spoke to her sister.

“It’s hard to talk about the worst moments of your life because it’s a very intimate moment and to have to tell so many people about, you know, the one thing that you’re most ashamed of which the last things I said to Jennifer were, ‘I don’t have time for you. You’re being a pain in my butt,’” she told KDKA-TV. “That’s a hard thing to live with.”

It was during that testimony that a friend of Melvin Knight was asked to leave the courtroom.

“She wasn’t laughing, she asked where the bathroom was and if she could go to the bathroom,” a woman outside the courthouse said. “Okay, so you guys can mind your own business.”

Lauren Rice didn’t want to talk to our camera, but later took the stand for the defense, telling the jury that Melvin Knight was easily influenced and gullible.

She described him as both sweet and sad.

Melvin Knight’s attorneys are trying to convince the jury that their client was afraid of Ricky Smyrnes who has been dubbed the ringleader of the so-called “Greensburg 6.”

Smyrnes’ ex-wife, Karina, testified that she was physically abused by her husband and coerced by him to participate in a burglary.

Also taking the stand was a man who identified himself as Melvin Knight’s best friend. He believes Knight is being used as a scapegoat.

“I know my friend Melvin,” Cameron Hall said. “He’s not the sharpest pencil in the box and I know this for a fact because me and him been around each other for a long time. Melvin, he’s a trusting person. He just wants friends. He’s very, very, influential.”

Also testifying today was a special education teacher who taught Melvin Knight in grade school. He told the jury that Melvin Knight was easily influenced and would do anything to make friends.

RELATED LINKS
More Local News
More Related Stories

Listen Live!

TV Schedule

Full Program Grid
7:00 PM CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
7:30 PM omg! Insider
8:00 PM Undercover Boss
9:00 PM Blue Bloods
10:00 PM Blue Bloods
11:00 PM KDKA-TV News at 11
11:35 PM Late Show with David Letterman

Now On KDKA-TV:

follow us Now On KDKA TV: video on demand Now On KDKA TV: weatherbug small Now On KDKA TV: waitingchildsm Now On KDKA TV: ptls Now On KDKA TV: driving skills for l41d84c Now On KDKA TV:  Now On KDKA TV: heinzredzonerecipes3 Now On KDKA TV: hometownhighq Now On KDKA TV: 50261 pitts kdka local alleghenygeneralhospital extraeffort 140x85 2012 0817 Now On KDKA TV:

Select a Live Stream