By Shawn McGrath
Tue, May 13 2008
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ANDERSON — A 17-year-old Noblesville teen testified Wednesday that he drove Christopher and Timothy Parker to a Lapel home the night a cancer patient was beaten for her medications, but said he didn’t see any blood on either brothers’ clothes after the alleged attack took place.
The Herald Bulletin is not identifying the teen because he was not charged as an adult. He does face juvenile charges related to the beating of the 60-year-old Lapel woman in October.
The teen’s testimony came during the first full day in the Parker brothers’ trial in Madison Circuit Court. He testified under use-immunity, meaning none of his testimony can be used against him in his own criminal case.
Christopher G. Parker, 20, and Timothy A. Parker, 18, are both charged with burglary resulting in bodily injury, a Class A felony, and theft, a Class D felony, in connection with the late October attack on the Lapel resident. Christopher Parker is also charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon, while Timothy Parker faces a count of aiding battery by means of a deadly weapon. Both counts are Class C felonies.
Under questioning from Madison County Deputy Prosecutor Pat Ragains, the teen testified he picked up the Parker brothers and a third man, Caleb N. Crisman, 21, Indianapolis, at a Noblesville apartment complex the night of Oct. 25 and drove them to Lapel so the brothers could see a friend.
The group stopped at a Lapel convenience store before going to the residence so Timothy Parker could buy a pair of gloves, the teen testified. He said he helped Parker pay for the gloves.
“I asked what they were for,” the teen told Ragains, “and he said they were for a roofing job.”
The teen, who testified he’d never been to Lapel before, said they then continued, making several turns before stopping along the side of a road. The brothers got out of the car and told the other two to stay inside.
“They said they were going to run into a buddy’s house,” the teen said. “They just asked me and Caleb to stay in the car.”
The brothers were gone for 10-15 minutes. When they returned, the group drove back to the teen’s Noblesville home, saying little other than to give the teen directions out of Lapel. The four watched television at the teen’s home for about a half-hour before the Parker brothers and Crisman left, according to the teen’s testimony.
Bob Cowles, Timothy Parker’s public defender, peppered the teen with questions about the brothers’ demeanor when they came back. The teen said the brothers didn’t seem out of sorts when they returned to the vehicle.
“Were they in a hurry?” Cowles asked. “Did they come back (to the car) and say, ‘Come on, let’s get out of here?’”
“No, sir,” the teen said.
“Did it appear they were in a bloody scuffle?”
“No, sir.”
The teen testified he did not see blood on either man’s clothing after they got back to the car, or while they watched television at the teen’s home.
The trial resumes Thursday, with Crisman and the victim testifying in the morning. The defense is expected to begin presenting its case in the afternoon. Court officials have said the trial will likely conclude Friday.
In court documents, prosecutors have alleged:
The brothers were wearing ski masks when they went into the woman’s home through an unlocked door in search of drugs.
The Parkers looked throughout the home and discovered the woman in a bathroom. The woman refused to give them drugs and grabbed Timothy Parker. He began punching her, but she was able to push him back. Christopher Parker began beating her with a golf club when she pushed his brother.
The woman suffered two broken fingers and possibly a broken knuckle, as well as receiving several bruises. She was treated and released at an Anderson hospital. The Parkers are accused of stealing roughly 150 prescription pills from the woman, including methadone, Soma and Xanax, and $180.
If convicted of the Class A felony, each faces 20 to 50 years in prison. The Class C felony is punishable by two to eight years, while the Class D felony carries a possible sentence of six months to three years.
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What’s next?
The 60-year woman allegedly beaten by Christopher and Timothy Parker is expected to testify this morning, when the brothers’ trial resumes at 9 a.m. Thursday in Madison Circuit Court.
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