Commonwealth v. Christian ‘Kit’ Martin triple murder trial began this week
(Elizabethtown, Ky.) 06/09/21 – JK COMMENTARY on COURT-TV Trial Coverage
Former American Airlines pilot, Christian ‘Kit’ Martin, is accused of murdering Pamela Phillips, Calvin ‘Cal’ Phillips, and Ed Dansereau in 2015 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Kentucky.
Cal Phillips was the target because he was scheduled to testify at Christian Martin’s court marshall at Fort Campbell, Ky., in Christian County.
CourtTV’s anchor, attorney, and former prosecutor, Vinnie Politan, believes the prosecution has made a major mistake.
The rub is that when the prosecutor called defense witnesses to testify on behalf of the prosecution, those two defense witnesses invoked their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
The judge granted the Fifth Amendment right to two witnesses who were called by the defense, meaning they do not have to testify based on their credible belief that their testimony could possibly incriminate them in a crime.
Mr. Politano and reporter Julia Jenae pointed out that under these circumstances:
(A) The defense can now ask leading questions which require only yes or no responses, meaning it will frame the case around the defense’s claims; and,
(B) The defense blames those two witnesses, one, the first ex-wife of defendant Christian Martin, for the triple murders.
This incredible development, which unfolded on 6/08/21 (Tues.) establishes a shadow of a doubt around the question of whether Christian Martin committed the murders.
Establishing doubt is the gold standard for acquittal by the jury – to be able to find Martin not guilty.
All of this is becoming more like a Perry Mason episode hinging on obfuscated technicalities like those emerging here.
Update 6/09/21 testimony per CourtTV
The front door was broken or jammed and would not open so the residents only used the back door.
A Sheriff’s deputy testified that the door was actually jammed by presence of a security door stop and three dead bolt locks.
The door stop was a stick that wedges between the door knob and the floor and is removable.
Anchor Politano thinks this is a huge point for the prosecution.
Lori Spencer, Martin’s fiance, is sitting behind the defendant and supporting Christian Martin’s defense.
Marlene LaRock, Martin’s neighbor, testified that she went to the murder victim’s house because she could not get her friend on the phone; the front door was wide open and Pamela’s car was now turned around a different direction in the driveway. The killer was obviously inside the whole time. LaRock did not enter.
Apparently this occurred between 5 and 7:30 p.m.
The alleged killer, Mr. Martin, across the street, arrived home at 7:30 p.m., per security cameras at his house.
CourtTV’s Julia Jenae said prosecution only has to prove Martin was complicit in the murders but has not produced names of any co-conspirators.
Marlene LaRock is the neighbor of the victim Pamela Phillips as well as the alleged perp, Martin.
Joan Harmon is defendant Christian Martin’s ex-wife whom he blames the murders on. Harmon is one of the two witnesses granted the Fifth Amendment right to not testify because she could incriminate herself, a bonus for defendant Martin’s defense.
