Defense rests in Ammar Harris death penalty trial
Jurors are expected to hear closing arguments Monday in the death penalty trial of Ammar Harris, a felon charged in a shooting that led to a fiery crash that left three dead on the Strip.
While prosecutors introduced two of Harris's prior convictions — possession of a stolen firearm and bribery of a public officer — during the five days of testimony that wrapped up Thursday, the jury will not be told of his conviction on sexual assault and robbery charges. Prosecutor David Stanton declined to elaborate on why the latter conviction would not be introduced.
Authorities say Harris shot and killed Kenny "Clutch" Cherry Jr. after pulling alongside the victim's Maserati in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 21, 2013. As the bullet plowed through Cherry's chest, he crashed his car into a taxi, causing an explosion that killed driver Michael Boldon and his passenger, Sandra Sutton-Wasmund of Maple Valley, Wash. A passenger in Clutch's Maserati suffered a minor gunshot wound and survived.
After calling two witnesses, defense attorneys rested their case Thursday afternoon.
Harris faces three counts of murder with use of a deadly weapon, one count of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, two counts of discharging a firearm into a vehicle, and five counts of discharging a firearm out of a vehicle.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker
