Defense witnesses disagree with homicide ruling in North Strabane shooting death
Two pathologists would have listed 2014 death as suicide or undetermined
Two forensic pathologists hired by Scott Edmonds’ legal defense disagreed with the official determination that the fatal shooting of the defendant’s wife, Louise Weis-Edmonds, was a homicide.
One witness who testified on the fourth day of Edmonds’ homicide trial Monday determined that Weis-Edmonds likely died by suicide, while the other pathologist said there were too many questions surrounding her death and would have ruled the manner as undetermined.
Edmonds, who is now 60, was arrested more than a decade ago and accused of fatally shooting his 49-year-old wife in the back of the head March 25, 2014, in their North Strabane townhouse.
Dr. John Hunsaker, a retired medical examiner in Kentucky, said that there appeared to be an upward trajectory to the bullet that entered the back of Weis-Edmonds’ head and lodged in the upper front portion of her brain, making it “more suggestive of self infliction” rather than other possibilities. In his report for the defense, he determined suicide was “more likely than not” the manner of death.
“It would be unmistakable that the path of the bullet was upwards,” Hunsaker said.
Another defense witness, Dr. Adel Shaker, who is a pathologist based in Texas, said blood splatter on the wall near where Wise-Edmonds’ was found lying on the floor indicated a person could not have fired the weapon while behind her. He also said the bullet had an upward trajectory, but he acknowledged there were so many other factors that he ruled the manner of death as undetermined, meaning it could be suicide or homicide.
Both pathologists reviewed files of the case, including the autopsy report, crime scene photos and other investigative materials. Defense attorney Mark Adams is trying to show the jury that their medical opinions about Weis-Edmonds’ manner of death run counter to the findings by the prosecution’s two pathologists who investigated the case – the late Dr. Cyril Wecht and Dr. Jennifer Hammers – when they ruled it a homicide.
The trial, which began Wednesday at the Washington County Courthouse, hit some lulls Monday due to technical issues since both Hunsaker and Shaker testified by videoconferencing and appeared on a large television in the courtroom.
Shaker on multiple occasions said “it has to be beyond reasonable doubt” for the reason why he considered the manner of death undetermined, prompting an objection from the prosecution and a warning from Judge John Disalle.
“The witness cannot give an opinion on what reasonable doubt is and what the jury should decide about the evidence,” DiSalle said.
When Shaker accidentally said it again later in testimony, DiSalle instructed the jury that it would be up to them to make the final decision.
“It’s your job to find beyond a reasonable doubt,” DiSalle told them about the high bar the prosecution must clear to prove guilt.
During cross-examination under First Assistant District Attorney Leslie Mylan, Shaker admitted there were several unexplained parts of the case. While he noted that there was no blood on Weis-Edmonds’ right palm, which he thought indicated that she may have been holding the .380 handgun, he admitted that she may have also had a clenched fist when she was shot. He also acknowledged that the scene may have been disturbed and Weis-Edmonds’ body could have been moved since Edmonds was seen lying over top of her when police arrived at the house.
Both Hunsaker and Shaker also had no explanation as to how the handgun made its way into the pocket of a pool table in an adjacent room.
“That’s an open question.” Hunsaker said. “How did it get there? Someone would have had to put it there.”
Earlier in the day, DiSalle read Edmonds his rights to testify in his own defense or remain silent, which the jury cannot use against him in their deliberations. However, it appears Edmonds is strongly considering testifying when the trial resumes this morning.
DiSalle asked Edmonds whether he had made a decision about testifying, and he indicated he will take the stand to tell his side of the story.
“Yes, I made my decision,” Edmonds said. “I would love to testify, your honor.”
Edmonds, who has been held without bond for more than a decade at the Washington County jail, is charged with felony homicide and misdemeanor evidence tampering.