Menu
Week 1 of Karen Swift Trial wraps up; tire expert says screw found in Swift's tire was manually inserted
RACHEL TOWNSEND
Friday, May 31, marked day four of the Karen Swift case, the State ended the week hearing testimonies from an additional 17 witnesses and experts. Since the trial began on Tuesday, May 28, 35 individuals have been called on to take the stand.
Testimonies presented to the jury Friday included Karen Swift’s Attorney Jason Creasy, Tire Technology Expert Gary Bolden, Terry Harris (neighbor of the Swifts), Kim Price, Jennifer and Marty Lamb (neighbors of the Swifts), Jimmy Martin (neighbor of the Swifts), Marie Claire Hopper (an acquaintance of Karen Swift), Jamie Gurien (neighbor of the Swifts), Mike Smith, former publisher of State Gazette, Mary Rose McQuarters (neighbors of the Swifts), investigative reporter George Jared, TBI Special Agents David Howell and Charles Hardy, TBI Forensic Sciences Supervisor Christy Smith, Investigator Todd Thayer, and Kerri Smith, David Swift’s physical therapist.
A highlight for Prosecution was the testimony of Bolden, who revealed information regarding the screw that was found in Karen Swift’s abandoned vehicle on the day she was reported missing, Oct. 30, 2011. Numerous witnesses testified to seeing the car on the east shoulder of Millsfield Highway just 1/4-mile from the Swift residence on the morning of October 30, 2011. Additionally, each witness testified to observing the flat tire.
According to Bolden, the screw found in the tire, upon his evaluation, was manually screwed in.
He testified numerous times that the screw could not have been lodged into the tire through any other means due to the way the screw head was flush with the tire and perpendicular to the tire tread, showing no signs of forceful entry.
“The rubber does not mushroom around the screw as if it were forced...It went straight in,” said Bolden, who went on to say that the odds of the screw being lodged in this orientation from normal road debris were highly improbable.
Additionally, Bolden said the condition of the tire as it was submitted to him would take less than a mile to run flat.
Testimony from Creasy discussed Karen Swift’s plans for divorce in some detail. According to Creasy, Karen had filed for primary guardianship of her and David Swift’s children, requesting that David receive visitation every other weekend.
In the petition, Creasy said she also requested child support, spousal support, and an equal divide of property and debt. Creasy said child support was in the range of $1,408 based on the Income Shares Model for determining child support. He said that Karen Swift had reported David Swift with a monthly income of $8,500. Karen was reported with imputed earnings of roughly $1,250 per month (equivalent to the monthly minimum wage in 2011) due to her lack of full-time work.
Discussed earlier in the trial, Karen had taken the couple’s two daughters with her on a vacation with the Bonas during the week David Swift was notified of the divorce. Before leaving for the vacation, Creasy said Karen left a note for David notifying him that she had filed for divorce. The note was left with instructions on where to pick up the divorce papers. Creasy says a response to a divorce petition should be responded to within 30 days.
In this instance, Creasy said David’s attorney never filed an answer to the divorce petition; however, Creasy said four days after Karen went missing, David’s attorney did file a notice of appearance.
Creasy says he was also a host at the Halloween party Swift attended at The Farms. In a conversation with Karen Swift during the party, he said Karen told him David had asked her to dinner with him that same night to which her response was, “No David, it’s over.”
Neighbor Terry Harris took the stand testifying that he observed David Swift unloading 60-75 lb. haybales the day before Karen’s murder. Harris had lent the Swifts seven haybales for a hayride. When picking up the hay, Harris said David Swift was walking on crutches, so he and Karen Swift loaded the hay themselves. When returning the hay, Swift arrived with only his youngest daughter. Harris said David Swift did not use crutches while helping him to unload hay back off the trailer. As mentioned earlier in the trial, Swift had been using crutches due to a leg injury, rendering him unable to lift or walk properly.
During the testimony of Swift’s physical therapist, Kerri Smith, he informed the jury that David Swift’s injury would limit his leg function, however, he said that Swift would have had the ability to drag 125 lbs. of weight in spurts, with periods of rest. He said David Swift’s ability to lift and drag weight would depend on his determination but would likely cause pain.
Smith noted that David Swift would not be able to pick up weight of 100 lbs. or more without assistance.
While forensic reports were presented to the jury, no evidence was provided tying David Swift to the murder of Karen Swift.
The Defense will begin calling witnesses on Monday, June 3. The State Gazette will be on location providing daily recaps and courtroom footage.