Richardson trial update

The defense in the murder trial of Thomas David Richardson called four witnesses to the stand this morning who offered a variety of brief testimony.


A special agent from the FBI testified that witnesses shown pictures of Richardson could not identify him as having been at the Eaton County Fair. A prior prosecution witness testified that a man at the fair accompanied Kelli Brophy, who was said to be a romantic interest of Richardson’s.


An Alger County sheriff’s deputy testified that he did not make any mention of the location of the left sandal of Juanita Richardson to her husband, but the deputy testified that he provided the information for a Mining Journal article published the day after Juanita Richardson’s death.


Richardson’s son Levi testified that his mother had talked previously about her desire to be cremated. He also testified that he was trained in martial arts to the same level attained by his father. However, he said he was never instructed in the choke hold, nor had he ever seen his father demonstrate any of these tactics.


Defense testimony resumes at noon today.