Both the defense and prosecution presented closing arguments Thursday afternoon before the jury was dismissed for the evening.

 

 

 

Jurors are expected to return and begin deliberations Friday morning, on what will mark the sixth day in the trail against former Webster Schroeder coach and teacher Kali Watkins.Watkins is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl inside a school locker room back in 2017.

In closings, both sides spoke to the alleged victim’s and defendant’s timeline of the day of the reported assault. The prosecution claims there was a six minute window where it could have occurred.

The defense meanwhile says the key to this case is a veterinarian appointment that afternoon where the defendant can account for his whereabouts for at least 38 minutes.

The defense also called into question the Webster Police Department’s investigation, the way the school handled the reporting of the incident and the alleged victim’s story and her demeanor in court. They say she cried when pressed for detail but other times was bold, evasive, and quick to answer or explain inconsistencies.

The prosecution countered this claim by asking the jurors how they would react if they were accused of lying about a horrible occurrence.

 

 

 

Watkins is being charged with forceable compulsion and rape in the second degree.