Update: Day Three of Riley Bryan Murder Retrial

5:45 PM: Court breaks for the day. Court begins on Friday at 10:30 a.m. with closing arguments and then deliberation.

4:21 PM: The court takes a brief break. At this point, officials are unsure if they will finish with closing arguments tonight or have to come back tomorrow.

4:17 PM: The defendant Riley Bryan has decided not to testify. Bryan did testify in the first trial. Bryan told the judge his decision is based on health.

4:15 PM: The defense has chosen to rest.

3:55 PM: State Attorney David Tobiassen is cross examining Mr. Thomas. 

3:45 PM: The court takes a brief break.

2:35 PM: The defense calls an expert to testify. Joseph (J.D.) Thomas is a blood spatter expert, among other titles with investigation. Thomas is explaining to the jurors patterns of blood and the pattern of blood in the photos taken from November 7, 2009. By pointing out the pattern, Thomas explains what direction the gunshot came from.

1:35 PM: Gulfport Fire Department Lt. Lawrence “Pete” Huffman testifies about what the scene looked like when he responded the night of November 7, 2009. Huffman said he found the patient (Donald Price) laying face down.

1:15 PM: Witness Daniel Marion testifies. Marion said that night, Bryan told Marion to leave. “He didn’t want me on his property . . . he started screaming 'get off my property, I’m gonna get you for trespassing'.” Marion said he went outside and got on his bike. Bryan came outside to the front of the house and told Marion to leave. That's when Marion says Donald Price yelled back at Bryan,“If your gonna shot somebody shoot me.” 

1:10 PM: Court is back in session.

11:50 AM: The rest of the court is dismissed until 1:00 p.m. for lunch.

11:45 AM: Defense Attorney Jenna Finkelstein asks Judge Philip Federico for an acquittal of the first-degree murder charge. Judge Federico denied the motion. “There’s a lot of conflicting evidence, but there’s enough to allow a jury to decide. . .  the jury is free to agree or disagree or disregard those circumstances if they choose.” 

11:40 AM: The jury is dismissed until 1:00 p.m. for lunch.

10:45 AM: The 9-1-1 recorded call from November 7, 2009 is played for jurors. In it, Bryan called and spoke with a Communications Officer with the Gulfport Police Department and said he shot someone. "He was coming at me with the chair. . . popped off one round, two rounds, he just kept coming. . . there's blood all over the place."