Two years ago, the beaten and stabbed body of Jennifer Daugherty was found near Greensburg Salem Middle School in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Now, the man who is the alleged ring-leader of the group of individuals that tortured and killed her is on trial, with his life in the balance.
Ricky Smyrnes is on trial for the murder of Daugherty, and had to face the damning testimony of one of the woman's friends. Laura Piper claims that Smyrnes told her about the murder two years ago when she saw him at a local bus stop. Piper had befriended Daugherty at a local homeless shelter, and had presumably been told about the murder by Smyrnes because of that friendship.
CBS Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA reports that jurors also heard testimony from Cyril Wecht, who performed the autopsy on Daugherty. Wecht, who made a name for himself in many high-profile cases in the past - mapped out the last moments of Daugherty's life, pointing out that she had been conscious and in pain for at least a minute or two before losing consciousness.
Attorneys representing Smyrnes have attempted to keep their client from being characterized as the leader of the group that attacked Daugherty. Beyond Wecht and Piper, jurors also heard from a police officer, reading out statements from a co-defendant in the case, presumably to point out that her story has not changed throughout the investigation and trial.
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