Paris Anding's crack legal team has him take the stand in Marcellus Andrews murder trial: 'I didn't think I was going to hit him dead on his head'

Paris Anding shows how he hit Marcellus Andrews during his
murder trial Tuesday, April 17, 2012, in Waterloo, IA
(MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor)

Prosecutor Williams pointed out that Anding omitted the fact that he hit Marcellus Andrews with a bat during his first interview with police but easily volunteered that Jeremy Lowe had kicked Andrews when Andrews fell.

Dr. Marcus Nashelsky, a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, explained that he found a fatal injury to the back of Andrews’ head.

...Nashelsky said he discovered a 3-inch-wide oval fracture to the back of the skull. A second crack, this one straight and about 5 inches long, came off the oval and ended around his ear and temple area, he said.

     “There would be required a lot of energy and lot of energy ... to cause the extensive injuries that were in Mr. Andrews’ head,” Nashelsky said.

     He said the impact had caused the brain to swell and ultimately lead to Andrews’ death. Nashelsky said the fatal head wound was consistent with being caused by a single swing of a baseball bat.

After the defense rested, the state didn’t bother offering any rebuttal witnesses. The jury won’t report today, and closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday morning. Complete story by Jeff Reinitz of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier here.