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Opening statements in a trial of a man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend after she refused to have sex with him at a party began in the West Jordan 3rd District Court on Tuesday.
Parley Jeffs Dutson, 20, is charged with first-degree felony counts of murder and aggravated assault for shooting his 15-year-old girlfriend Kara Hopkins in the back of the head on April 7, 2007. During opening statements, prosecutors recounted details of the incident to the 10-person jury, which is composed of seven women and three men.
Dutson and Hopkins were at a small party in an apartment complex at 9300 S. Redwood Road around 2 a.m., when Dutson asked Hopkins to have sex with him in front of everyone. When Hopkins refused, Dutson threw her against the wall and took off her belt, according to court documents.
Then, Hopkins attempted to hide behind another man, and as her back was turned to Dutson, he pulled out a black revolver from his pants and shot her, witnesses told police.
"There is no doubt that [Hopkins] was shot and no doubt of who shot her," said defense attorney Denise Porter. "The question is the reasons [Dutson] shot Kara. What was going on in his head that night?"
Dutson's drug use may become a key part of the trial since witnesses have testified that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he pulled the trigger. Prosecutor Rod Ybarra said Dutson drank a brew of mushrooms and Kool-Aid. At least two boys told police that Dutson also smoked marijuana at the party, according to court documents.
Two men who were security guards at the apartment complex the night of the shooting testified after opening statements. They said they entered the apartment and found Hopkins on the floor naked except for a piece of black cloth around her waist and Dutson, in a T-shirt and boxers, sitting between her legs. The guards said Dutson was unresponsive even as they pointed firearms at him.
They said Dutson looked at them and turned in a slow manner and then continued to look at Hopkins thrusting his pelvis in a sexual manner at the floor, they said. The guards restrained Dutson, who told them he wanted to have sex with the girl "until she was dead."
The medical examiner has testified that there was no sign of injury consistent with rape.
Dutson and Hopkins met in St. George and had been dating off and on for 14 months until the time of the incident. Dutson appeared at the trial wearing a light red button-up shirt and khaki pants and appeared reserved except for a few words he exchanged with defense attorneys. Dutson is being held without bail at the Salt Lake County jail.
The trial is set to continue until Friday.