Family, teachers testify in Collings sentencing trial
Family, teachers testify in Collings sentencing trial
By Staff Reports
Neosho Daily News
Posted Mar 22, 2012 @ 09:46 AM
http://www.neoshodailynews.com/news/...ntencing-trial
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=5484#post5484
Christopher Collings
Neosho, Mo. —
Jurors in the Christopher Collings murder case heard from Rowan Ford’s family members, teachers and neighbors during the first day of testimony in the penalty phase of the trial.
The proceedings are being held at the Phelps County Courthouse in Rolla on a change of venue from Barry County. Collings was convicted Tuesday of raping and killing the 9-year-old Stella girl in November 2007.
Collings, as well as David Spears, Ford’s stepfather, were suspected in the 2007 rape and murder of the young Stella girl. Spears was called to testify during the guilt or innocence phase of the trial, but invoked the 5th Amendment in response to questions while on the witness stand. His trial is scheduled for November of this year.
On Wednesday, jurors heard from Colleen Munson, Ford’s mother; Ariane Parsons, the girl’s sister; science teacher Tammy Marshall; and fourth grade teacher Todd Holt. Ford was a fourth grader at Triway Elementary in Stella.
Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Bock told the jury it would be obvious from testimony that Ford’s family was poor, but the child was a whiz a school.
Munson described her daughter as a girl who enjoyed playing with dolls, riding her bike, going to church and playing with her best friend, Tyler. She said Rowan also loved school, but wouldn’t ride the bus. Instead, she preferred to ride her bike.
Munson also admitted that since her daughter’s murder, she has been under psychiatric care and hasn’t been able to have a stable lifestyle. She mentioned transferring to a different Walmart because people kept asking how she was and bringing up the case, and that she left the retail giant in 2009.
On cross examination, the defense asked Munson if she had witnessed anything inappropriate between Collings and Rowan and she replied she had not.
Ford’s sister, Ariane Parsons, also took the stand on Wednesday, telling jurors she had moved out in September 2007 because Collings was inappropriately touching her. She said the incidents began when she was 15, but intensified when he moved in with the family when she was 17. She said she repeatedly told her mother and David Spears about the incidents, but nothing was done. She stated, however, she did not witness any inappropriate activity involving Rowan.
While her mother worked nights and slept days, Parsons said she made sure her little sister ate every night and had clothes for the next day.
She described Sept. 28, 2007, as the last day she saw Rowan. That was the day she moved to Mississippi. She said she was packing a suitcase for the trip and Rowan gave her a hug and told her she loved her.
Parsons testified since Rowan’s death, she has tried to kill herself several times.
Also testifying was Marshall, who described Ford as a B student whose favorite color was purple. Marshall testified that Triway students planted a pink dogwood and held a balloon release the day before the girl’s funeral. She said not a single day goes by that she doesn’t think of Rowan Ford.
Rowan’s fourth grade teacher, Holt, also testified. He mentioned Rowan’s love of reading, saying she was “a hard girl to keep out of a book,” and described her as a hard worker who wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Holt said Rowan was “the kind of student every teacher would want.”
The defense asked jurors to consider all of the evidence in the trial before making a decision. The defense said Spears’ alleged involvement wasn’t a consideration during the first phase, but could be in this one. They stressed that the penalty phase wasn’t about punishing Spears, but about punishing Collings.
The defense showed a chart noting Collings’ birth, foster and adoptive families, and characterized the 37-year-old as having an attachment disorder that caused him to have behavioral issues as a child. This resulted in his admission to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 15, where he was diagnosed with major depression and an explosive disorder.
Today, jurors will hear from defense witnesses.
Family, teachers testify in Collings sentencing trial
By Staff Reports
Neosho Daily News
Posted Mar 22, 2012 @ 09:46 AM
http://www.neoshodailynews.com/news/...ntencing-trial
http://whitenationalist.org/forum/sh...=5484#post5484
Christopher Collings
Neosho, Mo. —
Jurors in the Christopher Collings murder case heard from Rowan Ford’s family members, teachers and neighbors during the first day of testimony in the penalty phase of the trial.
The proceedings are being held at the Phelps County Courthouse in Rolla on a change of venue from Barry County. Collings was convicted Tuesday of raping and killing the 9-year-old Stella girl in November 2007.
Collings, as well as David Spears, Ford’s stepfather, were suspected in the 2007 rape and murder of the young Stella girl. Spears was called to testify during the guilt or innocence phase of the trial, but invoked the 5th Amendment in response to questions while on the witness stand. His trial is scheduled for November of this year.
On Wednesday, jurors heard from Colleen Munson, Ford’s mother; Ariane Parsons, the girl’s sister; science teacher Tammy Marshall; and fourth grade teacher Todd Holt. Ford was a fourth grader at Triway Elementary in Stella.
Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Bock told the jury it would be obvious from testimony that Ford’s family was poor, but the child was a whiz a school.
Munson described her daughter as a girl who enjoyed playing with dolls, riding her bike, going to church and playing with her best friend, Tyler. She said Rowan also loved school, but wouldn’t ride the bus. Instead, she preferred to ride her bike.
Munson also admitted that since her daughter’s murder, she has been under psychiatric care and hasn’t been able to have a stable lifestyle. She mentioned transferring to a different Walmart because people kept asking how she was and bringing up the case, and that she left the retail giant in 2009.
On cross examination, the defense asked Munson if she had witnessed anything inappropriate between Collings and Rowan and she replied she had not.
Ford’s sister, Ariane Parsons, also took the stand on Wednesday, telling jurors she had moved out in September 2007 because Collings was inappropriately touching her. She said the incidents began when she was 15, but intensified when he moved in with the family when she was 17. She said she repeatedly told her mother and David Spears about the incidents, but nothing was done. She stated, however, she did not witness any inappropriate activity involving Rowan.
While her mother worked nights and slept days, Parsons said she made sure her little sister ate every night and had clothes for the next day.
She described Sept. 28, 2007, as the last day she saw Rowan. That was the day she moved to Mississippi. She said she was packing a suitcase for the trip and Rowan gave her a hug and told her she loved her.
Parsons testified since Rowan’s death, she has tried to kill herself several times.
Also testifying was Marshall, who described Ford as a B student whose favorite color was purple. Marshall testified that Triway students planted a pink dogwood and held a balloon release the day before the girl’s funeral. She said not a single day goes by that she doesn’t think of Rowan Ford.
Rowan’s fourth grade teacher, Holt, also testified. He mentioned Rowan’s love of reading, saying she was “a hard girl to keep out of a book,” and described her as a hard worker who wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Holt said Rowan was “the kind of student every teacher would want.”
The defense asked jurors to consider all of the evidence in the trial before making a decision. The defense said Spears’ alleged involvement wasn’t a consideration during the first phase, but could be in this one. They stressed that the penalty phase wasn’t about punishing Spears, but about punishing Collings.
The defense showed a chart noting Collings’ birth, foster and adoptive families, and characterized the 37-year-old as having an attachment disorder that caused him to have behavioral issues as a child. This resulted in his admission to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 15, where he was diagnosed with major depression and an explosive disorder.
Today, jurors will hear from defense witnesses.
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