Evidence Presented in Murder Case | News, Sports, Jobs

MAYVILLE – Prosecution, People vs. Tucker continued to give evidence in the Richard case.

Richard, 20, was charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 6, 2023, shooting death of his stepfather, Scott Blake, in the town of Ellicott.

The trial began Oct. 21 in Chautauqua District Court. Tuesday was the fourth day.

Dr. from the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office. Tara Mahar returned to the stand to be questioned by the defense. He had given evidence on Thursday but was not cross-examined that afternoon. The hearing was not in session on Friday or Monday.

On Tuesday, Mahar stated that he believed Blake was shot by someone using birdshot from a shotgun at a distance of less than 15 or 5 feet. He made this determination by looking at how dispersed the birdshot in the deceased’s head was.

Mahar said that in his professional opinion, Blake would have died immediately if shot in the head.

Following Mahar, recently retired Ellicott Police Officer Terry Rea testified at the hearing. Rea was working for the police department when Blake was killed. He was involved in transporting Blake’s body to the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office as well as imaging the autopsy. He was also responsible for transporting evidence collected from the medical examiner back to the police station.

Rea noted that he left the scene of the shooting around 6:30 a.m., arrived in Buffalo around 8 a.m., and returned to the police department with the evidence around 2 p.m.

Another police officer who testified was Michael Bergey of the Ellicott Police Department. Bergey is a member of the police department as well as the Criminal Investigation Team.

At one point, Bergey left the scene of the shooting to pick up Tucker’s mother, Jessica Richard.

Bergey handled much of the evidence, including the recording and transportation of items.

There was a line of evidence that Bergey confirmed was from the scene of the shooting, including shotguns, shotgun shells, a cell phone, a folding knife, pieces of clothing, swabs taken at the scene, and fingernail clippings.

While discussing the cell phone, Bergey stated that they were able to access the call log after charging it. A call was made to the outside area code, but when they did the research and tried to call, that number was disconnected, he said.

A second call was made to Tucker’s grandmother, according to Bergey.

After this, a 911 call was made.

During opening statements, Public Defender Nathan Barone said his client Richard was the one who called police to report the shooting. He stated at the time that Richard shot Blake in self-defense.

The trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday morning.