The defense's first witness is James Menard, the 24-year-old accused of killing Gulf Coast High student Jake Couture.
Update: 4 p.m.
The state has called what will likely be its final witness of the day.
Yubey Figueroa, the Collier County crime scene investigation supervisor who was on the scene Jan. 1, 2010, just took the stand. Figueroa is speaking about evidence that was found in Brittany Bay, and a large piece of evidence will accompany her testimony.
POSTED EARLIER
The state just entered a surveillance video from Jan.1 from the entrance to the Brittany Bay apartments. The videos show a Ford F-150 approaching the gate, and waiting. The vehicle then appears to back up out of surveillance view.
Collier County Dective Steve Spell said this afternoon that there was no common roadway between the two phases of the Brittany Bay community.
POSTED EARLIER
The afternoon session of court is expected to begin momentarily, and the state said it plans to show a one-minute video as part of the evidence.
Two Collier County crime scene investigators this morning discussed forensic evidence in the shooting death of 17-year-old Jake Couture.
The bulk of this morning’s discussion centered around evidence found at the crime scene on Jan. 1, 2010. Leann Whitney, a Collier County crime scene investigator at the time, identified several shell casings she found at the time of the crime.
Whitney also identified blood swabs collected at the scene.
The swabs and the casings were shown to jury members.
Earlier in the morning, Alicia Craig, a Collier County crime scene investigator, spoke about evidence -- an orange hooded sweatshirt, a firearm, holster and two magazines -- she documented while executing a search warrant at Menard’s residence.
The prosecution plans to call a firearm expert and DNA expert after a break.
POSTED EARLIER
The third day of the James Menard trial is set to begin this morning.
Menard, 24, faces a top charge of second-degree murder in connection to the death of 17-year-old Jake Couture.
Couture was shot and killed, and two others were injured, at a North Naples apartment complex last New Year’s Day.
The prosecution has called its first witness, Alicia Craig, a crime scene investigator with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
JAKE COUTURE SHOOTING
CLICK HERE TO SEE A SPECIAL SECTION ABOUT THE JAKE COUTURE SHOOTING »
STORIES:- Teens, 2 from Palmetto Ridge High, questioned in Jake Couture slaying; named suspected shooter
- $3M bond set for Jake Couture's accused killer James Matthew Menard
- James Matthew Menard arrested in triple shooting, Jake Couture slaying
- VIDEO: Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk announces an arrest in the New Years Day triple shooting that led to the death of Jake Couture.
- 23-year-old charged in triple shooting, Jake Couture slaying
- 1,400 attend funeral for Gulf Coast High’s Jake Couture
- 911 calls from Jake Couture shooting reveal chaos at scene
- Gulf Coast High deals with shock of shooting death of student; Jake Couture funeral tonight
- Gulf Coast High provides counselors to those mourning fellow student’s death
- Editorial: Collier County Sheriff’s Office ... agency should air video from fatal-shooting site
- 3 suspects sought in slaying of Gulf Coast High student; Report says 1 shooter, 5 shots
- Family, friends hold vigil for slain Gulf Coast High student
- Teen, 'friends with everyone,' shot, killed at North Naples apartments; 2 others injured
- 1 killed, 2 injured after shooting at North Naples apartment complex
- Press Conference: Arrest made in Jake Couture slaying
- Photo Gallery: January 5, 2010 - Jake Couture Service
- Photo Gallery: January 3, 2010 - Vigil for Jake Couture
- Facebook.com Gallery posted by family and friends of Jake Couture
- Ongoing photo gallery with photos of Jake Couture posted on Facebook.com by friends and family members
- NBC 2: Bond for teen's accused murderer set at $3M
- NDN VIDEO: Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk announces an arrest in the New Years Day triple shooting that led to the death of Jake Couture.
- NBC 2: Sheriff's office: Arrest made in teen's murder
- NBC 2: Funeral held for murdered teen
- NBC 2: One dead, two injured in North Naples apartment shooting
- NBC 2: Collier teen killed in apartment shooting remembered
- NBC 2: 9-1-1 tapes released after fatal shooting
- Read the obituary for Jake Couture and sign the online guest book
- Read the Collier County Sheriff's Office report on the Jake Couture incident (.PDF file)
- Facebook Page: R.I.P Jake Couture. Gone But Never Forgotten
- Initial Collier County Sheriff's Office media release on the incident
- Collier Sheriff's Office Blog: Arrest Made In Triple Shooting
- Download and listen to 911 calls from scene of the Jake Couture shooting. Call #1: Four minutes, seven seconds. (.mp3 file)
- Download and listen to 911 calls from scene of the Jake Couture shooting. Call #2: Seven minutes, forty-two seconds. (.mp3 file)
- Download and listen to 911 calls from scene of the Jake Couture shooting. Call #3: Two minutes, thirty-four seconds. (.mp3 file)
- The Daily News has posted the 911 tapes, acquired from the Collier County Sheriffs Office, to help readers understand the series of events and confusion surrounding Friday night’s fatal shooting at a North Naples apartment complex. 17-year-old Gulf Coast High School junior Jake Couture was killed by a gunshot wound, and Michael Fleitas, 14, and Brandon Standifer, 21, were injured. Some moments of silence exist on the tapes due to sections that have been removed by the sheriff’s office. We caution listeners that some of the content is graphic, and some of the language used may be considered profane and offensive.
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Comments » 2
dukecooter writes:
It was self defence!! I am glade that punk is dead, Now i don't have to worry about getting robbed by some loser with a replica toy gun or a real gun, what if this gang of bully's robbed my mother? the punk was carrying a Škorpion vz. 61 submachine gun, Now i have to worry about shooting some a-- hole with a toy gun and going to jail for it, frell that, I am writing to my congress man, if it was used in a crime, ITS A GUN!!! no matter if its a toy or not! that's a felon! Felons get shot in this state!! the loser left and came back with a gun, what was this guy suppose to do when there 3 or 4 gang members trying to rob him and his friends.
dukecooter writes:
I bet the jury will let him go, this is noting but a waste of tax payers money, The judge needs to step down. this was self defence.
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