AUSTIN, Texas -- On the sixth day of the capital murder trial of Meechaiel Criner, the defense called Criner to the stand and the defendant said he did not kill UT student Haruka Weiser.
Attorneys focused their line of questioning on how Criner spent his days living as a homeless teenager in Austin.
On the stand he spoke about scavenging for food, clothes, and shoes through dumpsters near the University of Texas. Criner talked about living at a storage room near the UT football stadium, and then in an abandoned building near St. David’s hospital.
Before the defense wrapped up their line of questioning, Criner said he did not kill Haruka Weiser and that he has never seen her. Prosecutors followed up with a series of questions regarding items Criner said he found in dumpsters while scavenging. Those same items, Weiser's red bike and cell phone, were linked to the crime scene.
Prosecutors also questioned Criner about a journal found in his possession. In that journal was a story that Criner admits he wrote about scenes of violent rape. Criner said it was a story he wrote at the age of 12, based on a pornographic video he had seen, and ultimately did not finish it.
Toward the end of questioning, Criner said he was worried about who actually killed Weiser. He added on the record that based on the last few days of the trial that he didn’t like his odds.
“It doesn’t look good for me...I just came here to tell my story," said Criner.
Court recessed until Thursday at 8:30 a.m. There will be another round of witness testimony before attorneys make their final arguments.
CONTINUING COVERAGE:
DNA evidence tossed out in slaying of UT student Haruka Weiser
Jury selection begins for slaying of UT student
Trial begins for slaying of UT student
Day 1 for trial of man accused of slaying UT student
Day 2: Witnesses testify about evidence surrounding UT student slaying