Witness retracts original story in murder trial
The trial of Michael Reisenauer continued Friday, and the presiding judge said he expects the case could go to the jury Tuesday.
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The trial of Michael Reisenauer continued Friday, and the presiding judge said he expects the case could go to the jury Tuesday.
Reisenauer is charged with murder for shooting and killing Kyle Goodbird, 19, at a Dickinson residence in July. The trial began Monday.
Those who were at the residence during the incident say Goodbird was aggressive before being shot. He reportedly took Reisenauer’s gun, pointed it at people and pulled the trigger, though it wasn’t loaded.
Reisenauer eventually got the weapon back, counted down and shot Goodbird.
Thomas Doppler Jr., a witness to the incident, was questioned by both the prosecution and the defense Friday.
Doppler agreed when asked if his initial statement given to Dickinson police following the July incident was not the truth. He said his untrue statements were to “do what I could to help Mike.”
Initially, Doppler’s statement to law enforcement stated, among other items, that Goodbird was being aggressive and threatening Reisenauer. During the trial Friday, Doppler stated he felt Goodbird was not being aggressive.
“I have had a chance to look back on the events that happened and realized that there was other options that were available,” Doppler said. “Being up here on the stand, I’m giving you the facts that I know, the facts, not my opinion, not what I think, the facts that I know to the best of my knowledge.”
Doppler said during the trial that he and Daniel Ferrie, also a witness to the incident, discussed what statements they were going to give to the police prior to going to the police department, in order to help Reisenauer.
“We were trying to figure out how to keep somebody that we knew out of jail,” Doppler said.
Lt. Dave Wallace said during the trial Goodbird didn’t have a pulse when he arrived on the scene, but a cardiac monitor indicated there was still electrical activity in his heart.
He said it was a short time after arriving at the hospital that Goodbird died. However, Wallace didn’t tell Reisenauer about the death until later.
“I did not want to upset him beyond the point where he was at,” Wallace said.
Jim Hope, Stark County assistant state’s attorney, said Friday the state rests its case.
Jay Greenwood, one of Reisenauer’s attorneys, asked Judge H. Patrick Weir that Reisenauer be acquitted due to insufficient evidence to take to a jury. The request was denied.
The trial continues at 9 a.m. Monday at the Stark County Courthouse.
— Press reporters Beth Wischmeyer and Ashley Martin contributed to this story
Tags: news, local, murder, reisenauer
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