“Samantha Josephson was the victim of heinous, cruel and malicious acts,” the prosecution said during the trial against the accused man on Tuesday. This writes People.com.
21-year-old student Samantha Josephson from New Jersey was killed in 2019 after getting into a car she thought was in Uber service.
Samantha (21) thought she was sitting in an Uber. 14 hours later she was found dead
Josephson (21) was last seen on March 29, 2019, at a bar in Columbia, South Carolina. She was later found dead by hunters in a remote area of Claredon County – just over 100 kilometers away where police believe she entered a black Chevy Impala, where the accused (27) was sitting in the driver’s seat.
CLAIMS PROOF: The prosecution claims that they have evidence linking the accused to the murder. Here is police attorney Byron Gipson during the opening argument in the trial on Tuesday. Photo: Tracy Glantz / The State via AP
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Lots of stab wounds
During the opening proceedings in the trial against the accused man on Tuesday, police attorney Byron Gipson said that the prosecution has tracking data that places Josephson and the accused together in the car.
The prosecution also has a “pointed object” attached to the man, who makes cuts that match those found on Josephson.
Killed wife’s family in search of “Nazi gold”
Josephson was stabbed several times – both through the feet, all over the upper body, in the face, neck and hands, according to Gipson.
– It is the intentional, cruel and malicious acts that make the accused have been accused of having kidnapped Samantha Josephson. He has been charged with the murder of Samantha Josephson, Gipson said.
The police attorney claimed that the prosecution has surveillance recordings and testimonies from DNA experts, who support the allegations against the accused.
– And he is charged with possession of a weapon from a violent crime, and at the right time we will ask you to recall convictions for guilt in each of these charges, Gipson added.
Defendant, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, has been in Richland County Jail since he was arrested the day after Josephson disappeared.
– Friends since childhood
– NOT PROOF: Defense attorney Alicia Goode claims the prosecution does not have DNA evidence. Here she is during the opening argument in the trial against the accused on Tuesday 20 July 2020. Photo: Tracy Glantz / The State via AP
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– Zero DNA evidence
Defense attorney Alicia Goode, however, argued during the opening statements that investigators have not found DNA evidence on Josephson’s clothes or body, which links the accused to the murder.
– I want you to hear this number again, and it is zero, said Goode, and continued;
– It is the amount of DNA on Samantha Josephson’s body that corresponds with the accused. Zero. It’s not on her clothes, it’s not under the charged and injured fingernails, it’s not on her ankles.
The ex-wife killed the children
Goode also claimed that investigators instead found DNA that belonged to “several”.
– There is no evidence that the accused is the one who kidnapped and killed Samantha Josephson. Do not jump to conclusions in this case, the defense attorney said.
Josepshson attended the University of South Carolina last year and was only weeks away from being a political scientist when she was killed, according to The State. She had plans to continue her studies at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law in Philadelphia after graduating.
Her death has inspired action by state lawmakers, who filed legislation shortly after the assassination.
The sharing economy industry has also implemented changes since Josepshon’s death. Among other things, clearer views of the driver’s driver’s license.
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