“Trial of Kevin Monahan, Accused of Killing Kaylin Gillis, Continues with Testimony from Law Enforcement Officers”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Trial of Kevin Monahan Continues with Testimony from Law Enforcement Officers

The trial of Kevin Monahan, who is accused of killing Kaylin Gillis by shooting at a car in his driveway last year, entered its seventh day on Wednesday. The courtroom heard more testimony from responding law enforcement officers, shedding light on the events that unfolded on the night of the incident.

Monahan, 66, is facing charges of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment in the 1st degree, and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors allege that he shot at several vehicles that entered the driveway of his Hebron home on the night of April 15th, resulting in the death of the 20-year-old Schuylerville woman. Monahan’s defense attorneys argue that he fired one shot in self-defense, and the second fatal shot was due to a malfunction of his gun.

During the trial, 1st Assistant District Attorney Chris Morris called multiple first responders to the stand to testify about the care they provided to Gillis and the interactions between Monahan and law enforcement that night. One of the responding officers, Washington County Sheriff Sergeant Christopher Murray, explained the precautions taken when approaching Monahan. Officers initially called out to Monahan to come down from his porch, but he refused and suggested that they come up instead. To ensure everyone’s safety, officers decided to wait for Undersheriff John Winchell to arrive before approaching Monahan on his porch.

District Attorney Tony Jordan also called State Trooper Kolby Gabler to the stand. Gabler, who had photographed the scene of Gillis’s death as well as Monahan’s home, provided crucial evidence to the jury. Jurors were shown images of Gillis’s body covered with a tarp, and pictures from within the car revealed that the fatal shot was fired after the vehicle had already turned to go back down the driveway.

Additionally, the shotgun that Monahan had taken to his porch was displayed to the jury. Gabler testified that while no fingerprints were found in key areas like the trigger or its surroundings, there was enough DNA evidence to conclude that Monahan had fired the gun. He also mentioned that when they found the shotgun at Monahan’s bedside, it had been unloaded. Furthermore, law enforcement had made multiple unsuccessful attempts to find any evidence of the two shots, such as empty shells or wadding, on Monahan’s property.

Gabler’s testimony also included a review of photographs showing the SUV that Gillis was in when she was fatally hit in the neck with a slug from Monahan’s 20-gauge shotgun. The pictures outlined the apparent path the projectile took from the back left of the car through to the passenger side door.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Art Frost questioned Gabler about the presence of oils on the gun and the inconsistent nature of fingerprinting as a means of identification. Gabler acknowledged that various factors can affect the likelihood of leaving a fingerprint on a surface and referred to them as “chance impressions.” He also agreed that it was not surprising that he was unable to develop a full fingerprint from the gun’s trigger and trigger guard.

The state of Monahan’s shotgun is a key focus of the defense’s strategy. Frost argued during his opening statement that the gun had malfunctioned, firing the fatal shot accidentally after Monahan had inadvertently hit it on his porch. Frost also questioned Gabler about the extensive search process for any shells or wadding on Monahan’s property, which spans approximately 60,000 square feet.

In addition to the forensic evidence, the prosecution called Dr. Michal Sikiricka, who conducted the autopsy at Glens Falls Hospital. Dr. Sikiricka explained some of his findings, including the severe damage to Gillis’s spinal cord caused by the slug, rendering her unable to breathe.

As the trial continues, both the prosecution and defense will present further evidence and witness testimonies. The jury will ultimately decide whether Monahan is guilty of the charges brought against him..