Castro-Miles trial in Baker's death: State says 'acted as one,' defense argues 'powerless'

State prosecutors asserted Wednesday that the woman charged in the death of Dickson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Daniel Baker acted “as one” with convicted killer Steven Wiggins. However, the attorneys for Erika Castro-Miles contended she was abused by Wiggins and took no part in Baker’s 2018 shooting death.

Both arguments were made to the jury during opening statements in Dickson County Circuit Court where Castro-Miles, 42, is on trial for a first-degree murder charge in Baker’s murder nearly four years ago.

Castro-Miles was a passenger in her vehicle when Wiggins, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, fatally shot Baker during a morning traffic stop. Wiggins was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in August in the shooting, which was captured on Baker’s body camera.

Related: Steven Wiggins sentenced to death for murder of Sgt. Daniel Baker

Related: Steven Wiggins states reason for shooting Sgt. Baker in interrogation video

DA Crouch: ‘They acted as one’

District Attorney Ray Crouch said that an event May 29, 2018 at a Cheatham County motel ultimately “triggers” Baker’s death.

Crouch recounted the incident in which Castro-Miles ran naked from a motel room she shared with Wiggins, located the front desk worker and called the police to report that Wiggins had abused her and stole her Saturn car. Law enforcement searched the hotel room and found drug paraphernalia as well Castro-Miles' purse, which contained .45 caliber ammunition, Crouch said.

Officers took a report and obtained warrants against Wiggins. About two hours later, Wiggins drove back, picked up Castro-Miles and they both left together in her car, Crouch stated.

“One phone call. One phone call, the evidence will show, and we wouldn’t be here today,” Crouch told jurors. “Had the defendant called right then, as instructed by law enforcement, we would not be here today.”

Instead, Crouch said, Castro-Miles spent the next 24 hours in her vehicle, driving around Dickson.

Crouch said she had “many, many” opportunities to leave Wiggins, adding that she was “away” from him in stores.

“They acted as one in everything they did. It’s impossible to separate their actions in this case,” Crouch said.

Crouch said he would also ask jurors to focus on a “distinctive” cough Castro-Miles displays in her interviews, stating that the jury will also “hear it on the body cam of Sgt. Daniel Baker.”

Baker’s body camera shows the sergeant’s final moments shortly after responding to a call about a car — later determined to have a flat tire and be Castro-Miles' vehicle — parked on the side of the road. Wiggins and Castro Miles were asleep inside the car.

Baker, a Marine veteran and 10-year member of the sheriff’s office, was notified by dispatch the vehicle was reported stolen and then ordered Wiggins out of the car. The shooting is on Baker’s body camera footage, which was viewed in the Wiggins trial. In the footage, Wiggins complained that he couldn't open the door, stating “it’s a (messed) up door.” Baker asked if the passenger side door worked. Wiggins said yes, and Baker walked to the other side, telling Wiggins to keep his hands visible. As Baker approaches the passenger side, gunshots are heard. Baker was shot by a .45-caliber handgun and the body camera provides a first-person perspective as he ran for cover.

Castro-Miles would later testify that shell casings hit her face as Wiggins fired through the passenger window.

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Related: 27 prior arrests, including assaulting an officer. Why was he free before Sgt. Baker's death?

Defense: 'Powerless victim'

Castro-Miles’ defense attorney Jake Fendley next spoke to the jurors.

“I hate to say it, but it took me a while to figure out why exactly the government was putting Erika on trial,” Fendley said.

“They don’t have a case against Erika other than her being with her abuser, Steven Wiggins,” Fendley added. “We all know that Erika did not murder Sgt. Baker.”

He said Erika was “not a getaway driver.”

Also, Fendley said he would argue later that she could not have “simply made a phone call.”

He told jurors that “You are going to hear that she was beat, her hair was ripped out, she was choked with a hotel room phone cord and she had a gun held to her head” by Wiggins.

Wiggins stripped her down, accusing her of “wearing a wire,” said Fendley, adding that Wiggins “broke her phone.”

Fendley emphasized that Castro-Miles “said nothing” during the interaction with Baker.

“She doesn’t tell Sgt. Baker anything that’s going on. She doesn’t have the courage to do that,” Fendley said.

He asks if she had spoken up, “Would he have killed her, too? Or, maybe he would have just killed her instead.”

Fendley described her as a “powerless victim.”

The trial for Castro-Miles continues this week.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Castro-Miles trial in Sgt. Baker's death: State says 'acted as one,'