CONWAY, SC (WBTW)- Day two of James Daniels’ murder and armed robbery trial continues. Today included testimony from investigators, and the jury got a look at surveillance video and photos the night of Trisha Stull’s death.
Testimony from Lt Peter Cestare started off the morning. Lt. Cestare said he was looking at surveillance video from the Sunhouse on Cultra road and said 30 minutes before the actual armed robbery and murder of Trisha stull he saw the same individual in the video that he’s seen in surveillance footage from an armed robbery that happened on January 2nd, 2015. Lt. Cestare testified that person is James Daniels.
Cestare also said he saw a Chevy Malibu in the surveillance footage from the Sunhouse on Januay 25th and another armed robbery on January 2nd of 2015. SCHP trooper Tyler Luther was called to the stand. He testified that Lt. Cestare gave him a suspect name and pulled DMV records to show that James Daniels was driving a 2012 Chevy Malibu at one point. Daniels admits to driving the car in a statement. The defense points out there is no DNA evidence of Daniels in this case.
Daniels is charged in connection to another armed robbery on January 2nd, but this week they are only trying his involvement in the armed robbery and murder that happened on January 25th, 2015.
Detective Lent with the Horry County police department took the stand Wednesday afternoon. He responded to the armed robbery and murder on Jan. 25th. He got emotional on the stand, but the defendant had no reaction.
After evidence was presented to Detective Lent he went to a home to speak to Daniels. Daniels willingly went with Lent to conduct an interview. Lent said during the interview he felt Daniels would provide information that would cause him to place him under arrestm and advised Daniels of his Miranda rights. Daniels was placed under arrest not long after that.
In the recording, Daniels said he went inside the Sunhouse convenience store to buy a soda. He said he talked to the clerk and even flirted with her. He said he came back out and the two other suspects Jerome Jenkins and McKinley Daniels were not the in car. Daniels states he drove away circled and came back by the store, and that’s when he heard gun shots. Jenkins and McKinley get back in the car and told him to drive.
During cross examination the defense points out that during the interview Daniels said several times he didn’t know what was going on, and said he’s fearful for his safety. Daniels said that his brother threatened to kill him and shot at him.
“I will take ownership of conspiracy after the fact, but I didn’t shoot nobody. I didn’t murder anybody,” said James Daniels in an interview recording.
Closing arguments will begin Thursday morning. Daniels is facing life in prison.
