×

First Responders Take Stand In Redeye Murder Trial

Barbara J. Redeye is pictured on Tuesday with Nathaniel Barone, county public defender, on the left, and with members of the defense team. Redeye is accused of murdering her half-brother, 36-year-old Dale A. Redeye, on Aug. 14. P-J photo by A.J. Rao

MAYVILLE — Day two of Barbara J. Redeye’s murder trial had police officers taking center stage in Chautauqua County Court.

On Wednesday, Patrick Swanson, Chautauqua County district attorney, called four witnesses to the stand — all Jamestown police officers who responded to 501 Lakeview Ave. on the night of Aug. 14, the day Redeye reportedly stabbed and killed her 36-year-old half-brother, Dale A. Redeye.

In his opening statement, Swanson argued that Redeye intentionally killed her half-brother out of anger during an escalated confrontation. By contrast, Nathaniel Barone, county public defender and Redeye’s counsel, claims Redeye acted out of self-defense since Dale A. Redeye, a man he described as a violent substance abuser with a criminal record, threatened to kill her.

Redeye is on trial for second-degree murder and could face a potential 15 to 25 years in prison.

Wednesday’s witnesses included Jamestown police officers Kristopher Schimek, Nathan Narraway and Zachary Sandberg, the latter of whom belonged to the Ellicott Police Department during the Aug. 14 incident.

Schimek testified that he was one of the first responders to the scene and had activated his body camera when entering the Redeye apartment around 8:45 p.m.

Jury members were given the opportunity to watch the six-minute footage, which, although not shown to the public, filled the courtroom with the audible crying and heavy breathing of Redeye.

The defendant is also heard giving Schimek a description of an assailant, a white man, dressed in black, who escaped out of a window. According to Swanson, Redeye would later change this version of the story when questioned further by Jamestown police.

Narraway, who was the first person to respond to the scene, testified that he began performing CPR on the victim. Later, he cleared the building after being informed of the alleged assailant.

Narraway said he rode with Redeye to UPMC Chautauqua WCA — she had superficial cuts to her right hand — and stayed with her for two hours. He then escorted the body of Dale A. Redeye to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, where an autopsy was performed.

Sandberg testified that he arrived at the scene and took a deposition from Redeye in his patrol car.

The deposition was given to Captain Robert F. Samuelson, division commander of the Jamestown Police Department.

Barone cross-examined each individual and further highlighted how none of the police officers were present during the incident itself and had no personal knowledge of the events that led up to it.

Moreover, the witnesses acknowledged to Barone that Redeye was not combative during the investigation or attempt to flee the area.

The final witness Wednesday was Detective Floyd Kent of the JPD, also a member of the Chautauqua County Forensic Investigation Team.

Kent said Redeye’s claim of an assailant jumping from the window onto another roof and then to the ground was deemed questionable very early into the investigation. Specifically, he said, the soft ground around the area would definitely have shown impressions if somebody jumped from that height. No impressions were found, he said.

Swanson then had Kent analyze a bevy of photographs taken around Redeye’s apartment, including photos of the deceased’s body.

Kent said a red substance, which appeared to be blood, was present throughout the residence, including on a knife, a window, the floor, the top of a doorway and a shirt in the second-floor hallway. Footprints were also captured in this red substance on the bathroom floor. Barone emphasized the red substance cannot be confirmed as “blood” at this point.

The trial is scheduled to resume today at 9:30 a.m. in Chautauqua County Court. The Hon. David Foley is presiding.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today