Prosecution rests in freeway battery death trial in San Bernardino
A defense lawyer for a man suspected of murder, when his vehicle battery struck another motorist after he crashed while chasing an ex-girlfriend on a local freeway, can begin calling witnesses this afternoon in Superior Court. Prosecutors rested their case yesterday.
Harville's Ford Explorer rolled over several times on the southbound 215 Freeway, near Mill Street, pitching the battery into opposing traffic where it struck and killed motorist 30-year-old Shawn Billings Kettlewell in October 2006.
After three days of witness testimony, Deputy District Attorney Terry Brown rested his case yesterday afternoon in the trial against Kevin Harville in San Bernardino Superior Court, according to court records.
Deputy Public Defender Rod Curbelo is scheduled to begin presenting any defense witnesses at 1:30 p.m., records indicate.
Harville pulled up alongside a Ford Expedition driven by his ex-girlfriend at a traffic light at Base Line and H streets, in San Bernardino, on Oct. 24, 2006, and tried to get the woman's attention, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The defendant reportedly yelled at the woman, and she was just trying to get away from him, according to earlier court testimony. Witnesses told authorities that Harville's Ford Explorer bumped and rammed the woman's vehicle multiple times as they got on southbound 215 Freeway and continued south.
Hill stopped her Expedition after the Explorer cut her off. Harville lost control, struck the guardrail and rolled over several times near Mill Street.
Among the car parts and debris flying into the northbound traffic lanes was the vehicle's battery, which slammed through the windshield of a truck being driven by Kettlewell, according to the CHP. Kettlewell died from his injuries.
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