Jurors hear testimony in trial over Allison Castro's killing

[00:00:03]>> YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT.

[00:00:06]THE JURY SPENT MUCH OF TODAY HEARING TESTIMONY FROM WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY HAPPENED AFTER ALLISON CASTRO WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

[00:00:19]AUGUST 19TH, 2022.

[00:00:20]JURORS LISTENED TO TESTIMONY ABOUT PURCHASES OF CLEANING SUPPLIES, JOURNAL ENTRIES DESCRIBING CASTRO’S DEATH AND RECORDINGS OF JENNINGS LEADING INVESTIGATORS TO LOCATIONS.

[00:00:31]HE SAYS HE DISPOSED OF HER REMAINS.

[00:00:34]THE DEFENDANT, CASEY JENNINGS, CLAIMED IN SEVERAL JOURNAL ENTRIES AND VIDEO RECORDINGS SHOWN TO THE JURY.

[00:00:42]SHE WAS SHOT WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO KILL HIMSELF.

[00:00:45]A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR WHO WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE CASE SAYS THE CASE MAY ULTIMATELY COME DOWN TO ONE QUESTION.

[00:00:52]>> ACCIDENTAL SHOOTINGS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

[00:00:56]WHAT MAKES THIS ONE UNUSUAL IS THAT SHE HAPPENED TO WALK IN AT THE EXACT MOMENT THAT HE WAS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF IN A VERY BRUTAL WAY.

[00:01:09]AND SO THE JURY THEN HAS TO DECIDE, DO THEY BELIEVE THAT.

[00:01:14]>> PROSECUTORS ALSO PRESENTED EVIDENCE FOCUSED ON WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARD, INCLUDING CLEANUP EFFORTS AND THE DISPOSAL OF CASTRO’S BODY?

[00:01:23]>> IF THE MURDER IS ACCIDENTAL, WHY IS THE FIRST THING ON YOUR MIND THE DISMEMBERMENT OF THE BODY AND THE HIDING OF THOSE PARTS?

[00:01:32]BECAUSE WHAT THE PROSECUTION IS GOING TO ARGUE IS THAT IS EVIDENCE OF GUILT.

[00:01:37]>> JENNINGS JOURNAL ENTRIES WERE SHOWN TO THE JURY.

[00:01:41]JENNINGS WROTE HE WAS TOO AFRAID TO CALL 911.

[00:01:45]THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR MIGUEL RIVERA, SAYS JURORS ARE LIKELY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION NOT ONLY TO JENNINGS EXPLANATION, BUT TO WHETHER HIS ACTIONS AFTERWARDS SUPPORT THAT VERSION OF EVENTS.

[00:01:58]>> I WOULD BE SO FOCUSED ON THOSE VIDEOS, ON EVERY WORD THAT WAS SAID IN THOSE VIDEOS.

[00:02:08]ON HIS TONE, ON HIS FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, ON EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID, BECAUSE THAT’S THE PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.

[00:02:17]>> AND RIVERA SAYS THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT MAKES THIS CASE SO CHALLENGING FOR JURORS.

[00:02:23]>> THIS IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE JURY.

[00:02:29]THIS WILL IMPACT THEM AS ADULTS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

[00:02:34]>> NOW, PROSECUTORS SAY THIS TRIAL COULD LAST FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS.

[00:02:37]AND IF CONVICTED, JENNINGS COU