Defense rests case in Osborn murder trial

PALMER - Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Tuesday in the Palmer Superior Court trial of Garrett Osborn, who is accused of beating to death and mutilating a 42-year-old man in Wonderland Park.

Assistant Public Defenders George Davenport and Greg Heath rested their case Tuesday in the trial of the 19-year-old defendant.

The defenses key witness, Dr. Ira Kanfer, a medical examiner for the state of Connecticut, was called to testify about the injuries which ultimately caused the death of Wesley Beanie Morton on Oct. 8, 1998.

Kanfer testified Morton died from injuries sustained from a knife wound to the chest and blunt force trauma, called flailing to the chest, which caused the wall of Mortons chest to collapse, subsequently stopping his breathing.

All 24 ribs in Mortons chest were broken in the attack.

Throughout the trial, the defense attorneys have claimed another man present during the attack, Jonathan Walker, inflicted the wounds which Kanfer said killed Morton.

On Feb. 8, Matthew McWaters a 20-year-old man who participated in the attack on Morton and made a plea agreement with the state in exchange for his testimony against Osborn testified it was Walker who dragged an unconscious Morton toward the parks monkey bars and jumped up and down on his chest, using the play equipment as leverage.

Walker pled guilty to first-degree murder in October for Mortons slaying, and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Walker refused to testify in Osborns trial.

According to McWaters testimony, he, Osborn and Walker met an intoxicated Morton on Oct. 8, 1998, and walked with him to Wonderland Park, where Osborn and Morton got into an argument. Osborn then kicked Morton in the head as he attempted to rise from the ground, McWaters testified.

The three defendants then kicked and punched the prone Morton for several minutes. When the beating ended, McWaters testified, the trio began walking away. Thats when Walker said he wasnt done yet, returned to the place where Morton was sprawled unconscious and inflicted a second set of beatings and the stabbing. In cross-examination by Heath, McWaters testified he was uncertain whether Osborn had assisted in stomping Walker at that point.

McWaters, who testified he never actually saw Walker stab Morton, said he believed Walker stabbed Morton at the time McWaters heard Morton utter the words, oh Jesus.

After Walker stabbed Morton, McWaters testified, Osborn took the knife from him and carved the initials W.S. and A.F. into Mortons knee. The initials stand for West Side and A Family.

On Monday, Dr. Norman Thompson, a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Morton after his body was discovered in the park, testified that at the time Osborn took the knife to Mortons leg, Morton was probably dying.

I conclude Mr. Morton probably had a light heartbeat and blood pressure at the time the cuts were made, Thompson testified, but he probably didnt live much longer.

Thompson also testified it was a combination of all the injuries inflicted on Morton which contributed to his death, noting the punctured pancreas he had sustained in the beating was a significant factor in his death.