Final witness testifies in ex-deputy Jason Meade's murder trial, case heads to jury soon

The final witness testified in the trial of a former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy accused of murder in the December 2020 shooting death of a Black man.

To follow closing arguments in the case, follow here.

Special prosecutors called South Carolina law professor Seth Stoughton to testify Tuesday afternoon as their last rebuttal witness.

Stoughton's testimony comes after a last-minute witness testified Tuesday morning and admitted to not seeing the shooting of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. Former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Jason Meade is charged with murder and reckless homicide in Goodson's shooting on Dec. 4, 2020.

Meade's trial resumed Tuesday morning after a two-day delay that saw Judge David Young dismiss jurors Thursday afternoon. Special prosecutors called the last-minute witness a part of its rebuttal.

Testimony has concluded, case to head to jury Wednesday

Stoughton's concluded his testimony about 3:45 p.m., and special prosecutor Tim Merkle said the state had no further witnesses. Judge David Young dismissed jurors for a brief recess.

It was not immediately clear if closing arguments would begin Tuesday afternoon or would begin Wednesday morning, but it's clear the case will soon head to the jury which will consider the former deputy's fate.

Prosecutors call expert witness to discuss use-of-force

Stoughton, a law professor at the University of South Carolina, to testify about whether Meade's use of deadly force was reasonable. Stoughton is likely the final witness expected to testify in the case.

Stoughton currently serves as a professor at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law and the Faculty Director of the Excellence in Policing and Public Safety Program. He worked for about five years in Tallahassee about 20 years ago, according to his testimony.

Stoughton has testified as an expert in other cases across the country, including as an expert in the prosecution of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the 2020 death of George Floyd and former Minnesota police officer Kim Potter in the 2021 fatal shooting of Daunte Wright. According to his online resume, Stoughton has been retained as an expert in the prosecution of former Columbus police officer Adam Coy, which is currently scheduled to go to trial in October.

What did Christopher Corne testify to on cross-examination?

Corne testified Tuesday that he had watched "quite a few" news segments about the case before coming forward with his account.

Under cross-examination from defense attorney Steven Nolder, Corne said he began following Tamala Payne, Goodson's mother, on Facebook about a week and a half ago.

Corne said he has since deleted comments he made about the case on Payne's posts and a post he made on Dec. 18, 2020. He has also deleted his entire Facebook profile after an interview with the FBI, Corne testified.

When asked by Nolder, Corne acknowledged that some of the details in his version of events had changed from the time he was asked about it by special prosecutor Tim Merkle to when he was interviewed by the FBI the next day.

Corne also said he followed Meade, who he knew was in an undercover law enforcement vehicle to "go see some cops kick down some doors."

"You parked your vehicle to watch," Nolder asked.

"Yes," Corne said.

Nolder asked Corne about statements Corne made to Merkle about Goodson having one hand on the wheel, versus testimony Corne gave Tuesday that Goodson had both hands off the wheel of his vehicle, and where Corne's work van was.

"(My story) didn't change, I was unsure at the time," Corne testified.

When asked on redirect examination by Montgomery County Assistant Prosecutor Josh Shaw, Corne said he wanted to come forward but reduce his involvement because he "didn't want to be in the public eye" like he currently is.

Corne also told Shaw he came forward because he "felt like it was the right thing to do."

"Is it the right thing to do to delete your Facebook account after being interviewed by the FBI," Nolder asked.

"No," Corne said.

The Dispatch asked Corne as he was leaving the Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse Tuesday why he didn't come forward to the police or FBI in the years before the case went to trial.

His response: "I don't know."

Who is Christopher Corne, and why is he testifying?

Judge David Young told the jury Corne - a local HVAC technician - came forward after the trial began and after watching live streams of the proceedings.

Young said Corne's testimony violated a separation of witness order - meaning witnesses cannot watch testimony or hear evidence - but he would be allowed to testify. The judge gave no public indication as to how he reached the decision to allow the testimony.

In his testimony, Corne said he saw Goodson's vehicle at the intersection "driving erratically." Corne said he saw the driver, who appeared to be singing or dancing to music in the car, with nothing in his hands.

"Nothing at all," Corne said.

After seeing two pickup trucks turn around in the intersection - which testimony has confirmed belonged to Meade and other Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Task Force members - Corne said he turned around and followed them because he had time before he needed to go to his next work site.

Video from the intersection of Karl and Ferris roads shown to Corne shows his vehicle following Meade's truck and the other task force truck for about two minutes after they turned onto Estates Place.

Corne said he saw flashing lights and a large law enforcement presence but did not stay in the area or reach out to any law enforcement personnel until about a week before he testified, despite saying the incident "stuck out in his mind."

Corne did not see the actual shooting or hear anything because the windows of his truck were rolled up, he testified.

Defense rests its case

Attorneys for Meade formally rested their case Tuesday morning. Special prosecutors in the case will have the option of calling rebuttal witnesses.

Meade testified in his defense that he feared for his life on the night of the shooting.

How do I watch the Jason Meade trial?

The Franklin County Common Pleas Court is equipped with cameras in each courtroom that provide the ability to live stream proceedings.

The stream for Judge David Young's courtroom can be found here.

The judge controls the live stream from the bench, and the feed is only on when court is in session. The judge can also control whether some evidence, such as photos that may be graphic or sensitive, are shown to the public and streamed.

Why was Jason Meade's trial delayed?

While attorneys for both sides aren't commenting, the delay in testimony is likely due to subpoenas filed Thursday for a last-minute witness.

Special prosecutors Tim Merkle, Gary Shroyer and Montgomery County Assistant Prosecutor Josh Shawn filed subpoenas for a local heating and cooling worker, Christopher Corne, in the case. Testimony from one of Goodson's neighbors on Estates Place included questions about a heating and cooling van that seen on the street the night of the shooting.

What did Jason Meade say on the stand?: 'I don't want to die:' Ex-deputy Jason Meade says in murder trial for shooting Casey Goodson

Meade's attorneys, Mark Collins, Kaitlyn Stephens and Steven Nolder, have been calling witnesses in Meade's defense, including the former deputy, after prosecutors rested last week.

It is unknown if Young would allow Corne to testify. He was not listed as a witness on the prosecution's pre-trial witness list, and adding last-minute or surprise witnesses is typically not permitted under Ohio's rules of criminal procedure.

How much longer will the trial continue?

Meade's defense team is likely to rest its case early this week. Prosecutors will then have a chance to provide rebuttal witnesses if they choose to do so.

The special prosecutors in the case are likely to call at least one rebuttal witness — a use-of-force expert.

Previous coverage: Jason Meade trial delayed until Tuesday, few witnesses left in Casey Goodson shooting case

After both sides finish presenting evidence, each will give their closing arguments to the jury. Jury deliberations could begin as early as the end of the week.

A verdict in the case must be unanimous.

What would Christopher Corne testify about?

What Corne would testify to seeing or hearing is unknown.

From the time of the shooting in December 2020, authorities have maintained in multiple public statements and court filings that there were no eyewitnesses to the shooting.

After prosecutors sought to have Corne subpoenaed to testify, Meade's attorneys filed their own subpoenas, which are court orders compelling someone to come to court and testify or provide documents.

Meade's defense team asked to be able to take deposition testimony from Tamala Payne, Goodson's mother, Sean Walton, a civil attorney representing Payne in a civil lawsuit against Meade and the sheriff's office, and communications from the last six months between the two about or referencing Corne.

What happens when there's a verdict in the case?

If the jury reaches a verdict, Young will read it in open court.

Should the jurors not reach a unanimous decision, Young could give them what is known as a Howard charge, essentially jury instructions asking them to continue deliberating in hopes of reaching a verdict.

If, after a Howard charge, the jury still could not reach a verdict, Young would have to declare a mistrial, at which point prosecutors would have to determine whether to retry Meade or dismiss the case.

When former Columbus police officer Andrew Mitchell was on trial for murder and voluntary manslaughter in April 2022, the jury was unable to reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared. Prosecutors in that case sought to retry Mitchell, with a second trial taking place in April 2023. The jury in the second trial found Mitchell not guilty of all charges.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Testimony has ended in ex-deputy Meade's murder trial