Day 1 testmony finished in William Morva trial

WSLS News Staff and The Associated Press
Published: March 6, 2008

Updated 6:50 p.m.

Day one of testimony in the capital murder trial of William Morva is over.

The day began with the narrowing of 24 potential jurors to 14 who will be the jury for the trial.  12 main jurors and two alternates.  Nine women and five men make up the jury.

Morva’s defense team made a motion to not seat the jury, because of the way some jurors answered the questionnaire.  Also, Morva’s defense team claims the prosecution struck some of the potential jurors they liked.

Prosecutors say one of the potential jurors they struck made poor eye contact with them, but made frequent eye contact with the defense team.  Prosecutors also say they did not believe the potential juror’s stance on the death penalty.

The judge denied the motion.

In opening statements, Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brad Finch told the story of what police say happened from Morva’s escape from Montgomery County Regional Hospital, until his capture back in August of 2006.

Finch says Morva told the arresting officers, “I didn’t mean to hurt your friend.”

“This is a case about a prisoner who would stop at nothing in the course of an escape,” Finch added.

Morva’s defense lawyer asked the jury to keep an open mind.  He described the case as a marathon, not a sprint.  He also claimed Morva’s problems started when he was born into a difficult home life and medical problems, and made the argument that those medical problems caused Morva’s frustrations while he was in jail on robbery charges.  “He began to think in his mind he was left there to rot,” Tom Blaylock said, and Morva’s frustration grew when his brother was arrested and released on bond in a matter of days.  “This is not a case of who. This is not a case of how. This is a case of why,” Blaylock said.

Deputy Russell Quesenberry then took the stand.  He is the man investigators say Morva overpowered in a hospital bathroom, the night of his escape.

Deputy Quesenberry testified that Morva’s demeanor seemed calm going to the hospital.  Deputy Quesenberry says he had to remind Morva to walk on his left side, since the deputy is right handed in case he needed to use his gun.  Deputy Quesenberry also said the last thing he remembers is walking Morva to the bathroom, and being knocked out.

When he woke up, Deputy Quesenberry remembers Corporal Eric Sutphin being in the room, and telling him that he would be OK.  “I remember a hand coming down on my chest,” Quesenberry said. “He told me everything would be OK.” Investigators say Corporal Sutphin was killed the next day on the Huckleberry trail by Morva.

The next person to testify was ER patient Jennifer Preston.  She testified she saw Morva shoot hospital security guard Derrick McFarland.

“"The whole time I saw him, he had the gun pointed right at his head and he didn’t move from that position… When I realized what was happening, I went to open my mouth to scream and nothing came out,” Preston told the court.  Preston also said McFarland didn’t try to take the gun that Morva trained on him, “He almost looked like he was trying to appease him,” Preston said.

Then, emotion overtook the courtrooom as physician assistant Johnathan Chisum, testified about trying to save McFarland’s life.  “We were able to ventilate him.  We were able to start IVs.  But it was not successful,” Chisom told the court.

Nurse Melissa Epperly was standing next to Chisom, during those tense moments back in August of 2006.  “I ran over to see if he had a pulse and he did and he wasn’t responding at all.  He wasn’t breathing,” Epperly told the court.

A total of 69 witnesses willbe called to testify during the trial.  45 from the prosecution, and 24 from the defense.