Testimony from Day 4

Before the jury came into the courtroom this morning, Mr. Allison gave the following evidence to the judge and to the defense:

• An FTD report of Chris work hours
• A report from CSL labs showing what Chris had earned from donating blood
• Two CDs from the US Bank ATM machine in Jacksonville

These items were received late and will be discussed by the court later on in the trial.

Next, a witness was heard without the jury being present. He was Paul Clisshold, a cab driver who worked with Chris at the Checker Cab Company. Mr. Clisshold was disgruntled about being subpoenaed and essentially answered all the questions asked by Mr. Allison with I don’t remember. Mr. Allison gave Mr. Clisshold a transcript of the interview he had with the police shortly after Chris’ death.  Mr. Clisshold still said that he didn’t remember anything that he and Chris had talked about when they were co-workers. Mr. Allison dismissed him and asked the judge to order him back at a date and time that he could work out with Mr. Allison.

When the judge broke for lunch, Mr. Allison met with us and we asked about what was going on with Mr. Clisshold  Mr. Allison told us that Mr. Clisshold had transportation and child care issues and was angry that he had to come all the way from Medford to Yreka, even though Mr. Allison had arranged transportation for him. Mr. Allison said that after his appearance in court, he was taken to an office in the courthouse and shown the video that was made of him being interviewed by the detectives last year. Mr. Allison told us that we would be seeing Mr. Clisshold again and this time he expected him to be a cooperative witness.

In actual fact, though, Mr. Clisshold proved to be completely uncooperative and was not used as a witness in the trial.

First witness, Ms. Bonnie Mortensen, Forensic Technician, Siskiyou County Sheriff

Ms. Mortensen continued her testimony from the previous day. Her testimony was interrupted about 11:00 AM so that Dr. Olson, the medical examiner, could testify. Ms. Mortensen returned to the stand late in the afternoon to continue her testimony, but still was unable to finish. She finished her testimony Friday morning, November 22, 2013. Because her testimony was so fragmented, it has been combined all on one page: Bonnie Mortensen's testimony

Next witness, Dr. James Olson, Medical Examiner, Southern Oregon

The rolled-up tent, as delivered to Dr. Olson

Dr. Olson has a medical practice in Medford. He also works as a pathologist in the local hospitals, determining the cause and manner of patient death. He is the deputy medical examiner for the six lower counties of the state of Oregon. He has been practicing medicine since 1976. He performs about 300-330 autopsies per year and has performed about 5-6,000 autopsies in his career. He testifies  about 20-25 times a year in court. Siskiyou County typically asks him to do autopsies in the case of suspicious deaths.

Before Dr. Olson's testimony, Mr. Allison met with me and my family and told us that the things that we would hear in Dr. Olson's testimony would likely haunt us for the rest of our lives. He, himself, was teary-eyed as he told us that. He said that if we didn't want to hear Dr. Olson's testimony, we should leave the courtroom when he begins his testimony.

Dr. Olson's testimony is a very graphic description of Chris' autopsy and I repeat Mr. Allison's warning to whoever is reading this blog.

If you wish to read Dr. Olson's testimony in which he presents his autopsy report, click the following link.

Dr. Olson's testimony

From the Clerk's Docket and Minutes

9:00 - In session
9:05 - Paul Clisshold, 402 hearing
9:30 - Bonnie Mortensen resumes testimony
10:45 - Recess
11:05 - In session, Dr. James Olson begins testifying
12:00 - Recess
1:30 - In session
3:00 - Recess
3:20 - In session
4:40 - Recess

End of day 4

Last update: 5/2/14 - Return to the Patricia MacCallum trial home page