A person who’s accused of killing his girlfriend, the mom of his lacking daughter, in her Ansonia residence in December 2019 took the stand on Wednesday in his personal protection and advised the jury he noticed the assault however couldn’t do something as a result of he was on PCP.
He’s anticipated to be again on the stand on Thursday.
The trial of Jose Morales continues after the state rested its case Wednesday. We hear from the defendant himself for the primary time.
Morales, in a dramatic flip, took the stand on Wednesday afternoon after the state rested its case and a felony psychologist testified as a protection witness.
Earlier than he took the stand, the choose requested Morales for a second time if he was positive he wished to take the stand and Morales responded, “I am sure.”
Morales has been charged with the homicide of Christine Holloway and tampering with proof.
Police discovered Holloway’s physique on Dec. 2, 2019 and arrested Morales on Feb. 7, 2020.
The couple’s daughter, Vanessa Morales, was 14 months previous on the time and she or he not within the residence when police discovered Holloway. There was no signal of her since.
Morales advised the jury of how and Holloway met, via a courting app, and she or he he was dwelling in Ansonia on weekends and in New Haven, the place his mother and father reside, through the week.
He additionally supplied an account of Thanksgiving weekend in 2019, simply days earlier than Holloway was killed, and so they spend time together with her household in addition to his.
On Wednesday, Morales advised the jury that he was on PCP (phencyclidine, which is also called angel mud) whereas he was inside the house on Myrtle Avenue in Ansonia the place Holloway was killed.
Morales stated he heard screams and sounds of a wrestle.
He advised the jury that he noticed a person in the home repeatedly hitting Holloway with a crowbar however that he could not assist due to the results of the PCP.
“This is 10 minutes, not even, from when I smoked the PCP. I went inside the apartment, I tried to look for Vanessa everywhere, the car seat was gone,” Morales stated.
He additionally testified that the unknown man advised him if he known as the police, his daughter would endure the identical destiny.
The state’s lawyer objected to the testimony as rumour, however the choose allowed it, with limits.
Courtroom adjourned on Wednesday with Morales nonetheless underneath direct examination. His testimony will proceed once more on Thursday morning.
