DADE CITY, Florida. – It remains unclear if Curtis Reeves will speak this week as his legal team scrambles to prove he shot Chad Oulson at a Wesley Chapel movie theater in self-defense nearly eight years ago .
PRESS PLAY ABOVE TO WATCH LIVE TESTIMONY FROM CURTIS REEVES’ TRIAL
On Wednesday, the testimony focused on science and medicine. Jurors heard a video recording of Dr. Michael Foley’s testimony during Reeves’ Stand Your Ground hearing. The forensic radiologist said Reeves suffered from arthritis, which made him frail and limited his mobility.
However, the prosecutor pointed out that the expert never assessed or treated Reeves and made general assumptions.
TO SUMMARIZE: Curtis Reeves trial underway 8 years after fatal Florida movie theater shooting
On Tuesday, the jury saw hours of enhanced video of the fatal 2014 shooting. The defense tried to prove that a light source in the video is Oulson throwing his phone at Reeves, but prosecutors said it was a reflection. The grainy surveillance video shows Chad Oulson throwing popcorn at Curtis Reeves and Reeves pulling out a gun and firing a fatal shot. But before that, there is a white flash on the screen.
Video forensic expert Bruce Koenig who spoke said he could say, with certainty, what exactly it was. He even went to the Cobb Theater to get to the bottom of it, but couldn’t.
“The cameras hadn’t been changed,” he explained. “We realized we couldn’t try to identify where that light source would be, or what it was.”
Eyewitness testimony continues in Curtis Reeves trial
While the prosecution in the Curtis Reeves trial wrapped up its case last week, the defense continued to call witnesses on Tuesday. A video forensic expert, Bruce Koenig, spoke on Tuesday morning. The jury saw hours of an enhanced version of the surveillance video from inside the Cobb Cinema.
PREVIOUS: Curtis Reeves video expert unable to determine if ‘reflection’ in surveillance video is victim throwing phone
Later, Joanna Turner, another eyewitness inside the theater that day, said she remembered a quick move or movement from Oulson before filming. She described it as a thrown thermos-like object.
But in cross-examination, the prosecutor challenged his memory and ruled out that the object was a cell phone. Turner confirmed that she did not see a cell phone.
On Monday, the defense surprised the courtroom by summoning the defendant’s wife, who was there when her husband fired a shot, killing film buff Chad Oulson. Vivian Reeves told the jury that she was seated next to her husband when the confrontation between him and Oulson unfolded. She said Oulson got angry when her husband asked her to put away her cellphone.
Theatrical shooter’s wife was ‘terrified’ in altercation
Vivian Reeves told the jury that she was sitting next to her husband when the confrontation between the two men occurred.
CONTINUED: Curtis Reeves’ wife testifies in film shooting trial
Last week, prosecutors called Nicole Oulson to the stand after opening statements.
“I see his eyes were just glazed over and I knew then,” Chad’s widow said. “I said to him, ‘Chad, we need you, please hang in there, we need you. “”
Widow of theater shooting victim relives her husband’s death
Nicole Oulson told the jury how her husband, Chad’s encounter with Curtis Reeves at matinee movie previews, went from mildly tense conversation to gunfire within minutes.
The eighth day of the Curtis Reeves trial resumes Wednesday morning.
