ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Testimony continued Wednesday in the murder trial of Charlie Tan. The 19-year-old Pittsford resident and former Cornell University student is accused is shooting his father, Jim to death last February.
Wednesday in court the prosecution introduced a 911 call placed by Jean Tan, Charlie's mother, on the night of January 28. In the 911 call Jean Tan asked for help saying her husband, Jim had just beaten her up. As she described being thrown to the floor and choked, the call is disconnected.
The 911 dispatcher testified that he called the Tan home back and while talking with Jean Tan, her husband took the phone and identified himself and then apologizes for his wife. In the background, Jean Tan is heard saying, 'No, no, please help me, he almost killed me.' Tan's defense attorney's have long argued about a history of domestic abuse in the Tan home. Prosecutors say the abuse show motive.
"We'd never run away from facts. These are facts based upon our engagement with our law enforcement partners as to how they interacted with that house," said William Gargan, prosecutor. "There is a time frame that is consistent with the decision we believe he made."
"It obviously links to a history of domestic violence in the home and at least in that particular instance, a very serious issue of domestic violence and that's something that we've been focused on however I can't tell you how it fits in to our defense at this time," said James Nobles, defense attorney.
Also on the stand Wednesday was a friend of Charlie Tan's He testified Charlie contacted him on February 5 asking for money to skip town. Jurors also watched a gruesome video showing Jim Tan's body. His face unrecognizable.
Testimony will continue Thursday morning.