Prosecution Presents a 'Colorful Story,' Defense Says

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Defense counsel, in the trial of homicide defendant Michael Biscotti, says the prosecution has “many holes” in their argument during opening statements on Dec. 2.

Baltimore reisdent Michael Biscotti, 64, is charged with first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, firearm possession with a felony conviction, and use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure.

During her opening statement, defense attorney Judit Otvos told the jury that everything the prosecution said was just a “colorful story.” There are many holes in the prosecution’s story that prove her defendant could not have been the murderer, she said.

According to CBS Baltimore, Baltimore Police Department officers were called to the 1100 block of Comet Street around 12:30 p.m. on July 13, 2020, about an assault. Police found Freska Yerby suffering from multiple stab wounds.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police later identified Biscotti as a suspect.

On Thursday, the prosecution claimed that Biscotti entered Yerby’s home as a friend, and that the victim’s son went downstairs and saw the defendant with a knife.

Yerby had 16 stab wounds with one knife lodged in her side, the prosecutor said, and three gunshot wounds to the head, arm, and side.

The prosecution explained that Biscotti then walked out of Yerby’s house with blood on his shirt. The defendant was seen on video surveillance footage throwing his bloody shirt behind a dumpster. He then called a medic and told them, “I had to do it”.

The prosecution’s first witness was a crime lab technician with the police department. The technician verified the photo evidence that was shown to the court that depicted the crime scene, along with the multiple knives that were left at the scene. Prosecution also showed some of the knives that were left at the scene to the jury.

Prosecution Presents a ‘Colorful Story,’ Defense Says