Defense pokes holes in homicide case hearing
The preliminary hearing for an Ettersburg homicide that happened earlier this year continued Monday with the defense attorney calling into question the reliability of witnesses.
Defense attorney Russell Clanton focused most of his questions to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brandon Head, who took over as lead investigator about a month ago, on the reliability of testimony and evidence in the homicide investigation of 33-year- old Jason Todd Garrett on or about Feb. 12, for which Ryan Tanner is accused.
The first time Head met with witness Christopher Champagne, who testified to witnessing Tanner cut Garrett’s throat and fatally shoot him in a bathtub, was in October, Head said.
Clanton asked Head if Champagne had brought the Sheriff’s Office “any items of evidentiary value” between Feb. 14, a couple days after the homicide is alleged to have taken place, to Nov. 10.
“Between that time period, no, I don’t believe so,” Head said, however, Champagne brought in evidence after his testimony began for Tanner’s preliminary hearing.
On Nov. 10, Champagne brought a red- colored bandana and white towel that had “several stains” to the District Attorney’s office, Head testified. Those items are currently being tested for blood by the Department of Justice, he testified.
Champagne “said he had obtained” the items “at the time of this incident or homicide” and hadn’t brought them to the Sheriff’s Office until Nov. 10 because “he forgot he had them,” Head said.
Law enforcement acquired and acted upon a considerable amount of information provided by Champagne, Head testified, but Head wasn’t significantly involved in the case until more recently.
“The information that he has provided me specifically and that I have acted on, I haven’t had any reason to question his credibility,” Head said.
However, Head testified the “bits and pieces” of Champagne’s testimony at the preliminary hearing Head was made aware of did make him question Champagne’s reliability.
The items of evidence Champagne provided are still awaiting testing, Head said.
A neighbor in the area, Howard Wease, provided other information to law enforcement about events that took place around the day of the homicide, Head testified, including providing a Maadi AKM rifle to law enforcement.
The rifle hasn’t yet been sent off to the DOJ for forensic evaluation, Head testified, but other testing has been requested and it’s still unclear if that was the firearm used to kill Garrett.
Clanton asked if law enforcement knew if he went by the nickname Trey, to which Head said, “I don’t recall him referring to himself as Trey,” though Head testified law enforcement did come across that name while conducting their investigation.
The preliminary hearing was ongoing at publication time and expected to continue Tuesday morning.