Gov’t. Puts Car in Court in Murder Trial

Evidence

Posted Aug 7, 2008, 07:26 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

In an unusual effort to prove a murder case, prosecutors in Washington state have persuaded a judge to let them bring a car into the courtroom.

The 2000 Ford Mustang in which victim Ronald Whitehead, 61, allegedly was shot to death "was hauled into the King County courtroom of Judge Steven Gonzalez in three bundles Wednesday night and assembled in time for when defendant Jon Ogden, the dead man's 20-year-old stepson, walked into trial Thursday morning," reports the Seattle Times. The government wants to show the jury how they believe Whitehead was shot four times by someone hiding in the vehicle.

Ogden's mother, Velma Ogden-Whitehead, 50, was sentenced last month to 22 years in prison for masterminding the claimed scheme involving her son and a friend, Wilson Sayachack. He is scheduled to be tried next month.

Ogden allegedly was in the passenger seat and Sayachack allegedly was hidden in the trunk as Whitehead drove to work in the car in March 2005. Witnesses say they heard gunshots and then saw Whitehead's body being shoved out of the car before it sped away.

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