VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A jury trial is underway regarding charges against a Terre Haute man police say stabbed and killed another man he found sleeping on his front porch in 2020.
According to Robert E. Roberts, the Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, the trial began today and a jury was selected. Roberts also noted that opening statements were heard and the State’s first witness testified.
Roberts said that tomorrow on October 18, more civilian witnesses and the law enforcement statements will be held most of tomorrow while the forensic pathologist and state Police DNA analyst will be on Thursday.
“I would expect that it will go to the jury late Thursday or Friday, depending on how late evidence takes Thursday,” Roberts said.
According to court records, Justin C. Gasaway faces a charge of murder as well as a sixth-degree felony charge of battery.
Gasaway’s charges stem from the events of January 1, 2020, when police responded to a residence in the 200 block of 9th Street, where they found 61-year-old Bryan J. Owen, who had been stabbed.
Court documents show Gasaway initially told investigators he found Owen sleeping on his porch, something that had happened several times.
Owen was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Gasaway’s trial began Tuesday morning before Judge Matthew Sheehan in Vigo County Superior Court V. Court officials said as the trial continued Tuesday afternoon, they believed the trial would continue into Wednesday.
