ST. LOUIS – The Daniel Riley trial is set to resume later Thursday morning. Today could bring more gripping and emotional testimony about the crash more than a year ago that cost teenage volleyball player Janae Edmondson her legs.
Janae Edmondson herself as well as her mother could both take the stand Thursday. The trial is continuing to unfold inside the Carnahan Courthouse. Authorities told FOX 2 earlier that the trial was expected to last three days. This will be the third day.
Prosecutors summoned an accident reconstruction expert to the stand on Wednesday. That expert broke down a computer recreation of the crash that took place in February of last year. The expert testified that the Audi SUV, which police explained the defendant, Daniel Riley, was driving, accelerated into the intersection at St. Charles and North 11th Street downtown, speeding up to some 45 miles per hour.
A Chevy Mailbu was approaching the intersection when it hit Riley’s SUV, sending it flying into the air. 17-year-old Janae Edmonson wound up being pinned between the SUV and a parked car. Both of her legs had to be amputated.
Riley is facing five counts, including assault, armed criminal action, and driving without a valid license. Prosecutors claim the crash never would have happened if Riley hadn’t rapidly accelerated through the intersection. However, Riley’s defense countered that the recreation was not precise, with his attorney shifting blame to the Malibu driver and also questioning the police investigation.
You will hear first from prosecutors, then from Riley’s defense attorney.
“From my understanding, you’re saying if the Audi didn’t touch its brakes at all, as long as it wasn’t pedal to the metal, that the crash never would have happened?” Prosecutor Adam Field said.
Attorney Daniel Diemer asked, “And yet the Malibu had still enough force, with less weight, to life and start to roll and lift the Audi?” “Field: That’s correct.”
It’s unclear who the defense might put on the stand after the prosecution wraps up its case. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.