RALEIGH -- Prosecutors called witnesses Wednesday to testify about Jason Young's finances as they worked two sides of their case - trying to establish motive while trying to poke holes in the defendant's testimony from his first trial.
Young, 37, is accused of killing his wife Michelle Young early Nov. 3, 2006.
Prosecutors contend he bludgeoned her to death in the master bedroom of their home when she was 20 weeks pregnant, their relationship had soured and he was sexually involved with other women.
But Young's first trial, in June 2011, ended with a jury deadlocked 8-4 for acquittal. Jurors from that trial spoke with prosecutors and defense lawyers about their deliberations but have not discussed their decision publicly.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, prosecutors played three and a half hours of videotape for jurors of Jason Young testifying during his first trial.
Then midmorning Wednesday, prosecutors called Sgt. Richard Spivey of the Wake County Sheriff's Office, the lead investigator on the case, to highlight what they contended were inconsistencies between the testimony and evidence collected during the protracted investigation.
Jason Young testified that he had a continental breakfast in the lobby of a Hampton Inn in Hillsville, Va., on Nov. 3, 2006, the day his wife's body was found, but Wake County investigators could not find him in security surveillance footage from that morning.
Young testified eight months ago that he did not kill his wife or have anything to do with her death.
The medical software salesman said he was in a Virginia Hampton Inn, about 160 miles from Raleigh, preparing to make business calls north and west of there.
Prosecutors contend he made the trip from the hotel in pre-dawn hours back to his suburban Wake County home, killed his wife, then returned to Virginia for business.
A newspaper and a cigar
Young testified in June 2011 that he checked into the Hampton Inn about an hour before midnight, went to his room on the fourth floor, watched the end of a football game and then went to the lobby in search of a newspaper to check some scores, then later to his car to smoke a cigar.
In images captured by security cameras, Spivey pointed out that Young had a newspaper in his hand while seen at the front desk.
Young testified that he propped his hotel door room open so he would not need a key, then propped outer hotel doors open, too, so he could return inside without a key.
Young said it was windy when he smoked his cigar, and he struggled to keep it lit.
Spivey pointed out that it was 34 degrees outside that night, but it was windy with speeds recorded at nearly 20 miles per hour and gusts of 31 mph.
Young also testified that he ceded custody of his daughter Cassidy in late 2008 to his sister-in-law and mother-in-law in part because he did not have the money to keep fighting them in court.
But Spivey said a review of several bank and retirement accounts in Young's name showed he had access to nearly $60,000 at the time.
Prosecutors also contended Young tried to collect from his wife's life insurance policy after her death, but the company refused to pay, and that money eventually went to his daughter.
Indigence declaration
To counter any claims of financial gain, defense attorney Mike Klinkosum pointed out in cross-examination that Young was being represented by Wake County Public Defender Bryan Collins because the courts had declared him indigent and in need of a public defense.
Klinkosum was appointed to the case by the courts and is being paid by the state's Indigent Defense Services.
Investigators were never able to find what appeared to be a dark blue shirt Jason Young was seen wearing at the Hampton Inn hotel. During his first trial, defense attorneys showed a photograph from Cassidy Young's third birthday party in March 2007 and suggested that might be the same shirt.
Spivey on Wednesday pointed out differences between the two shirts.
Prosecutors contend that investigators never found the shirt Young was wearing Nov. 2, 2003, because he disposed of it after killing his wife. Investigators also never found shoes that prosecutors contend left a bloody print on pillows at the crime scene.
Defense attorneys contend that Young did not have enough time to commit the violent attack that his wife suffered, incur no injuries and track no blood into his white Ford Explorer.
