Thursday, May 09, 2002
Intent argued in murder case
Man beaten, run over; defense says driver didn't mean it
By Randy Tucker, rtucker@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The prosecution wrapped up its case Wednesday in the murder trial of Ray Enfinger, an 18-year-old Sycamore Township man accused of intentionally running over Timothy Mills with his car in June 2001.
Mr. Mills, 38, died six weeks later at University Hospital.
Mr. Enfinger allegedly beat, kicked and then ran over Mr. Mills with his newly purchased '87 Chevy Camaro after Mr. Mills vomited in the car during a night of heavy drinking and drug taking.
During closing arguments before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge David Davis, defense attorney David Scacchetti conceded that Mr. Enfinger's actions that night were reprehensible.
But he urged jurors not to assume that Mr. Enfinger intended to kill Mr. Mills.
I don't think we can dispute that ultimately Mr. Mills died from being run over with the vehicle, he said. The question is whether Ray Enfinger did it on purpose.
According to assistant prosecutor Michael Bachman, the answer is a resounding yes.
Mr. Bachman referred jurors to a taped confession played in court Tuesday in which Mr. Enfinger could be heard telling passengers in his car Watch this. This is how you do it the gangster way before running over Mr. Mills, crushing his ribs.
Mr. Enfinger also allegedly bragged to his friends about beating Mr. Mills and running him over after the incident occurred.
This was no accident, Mr. Bachman told jurors. He (Mr. Enfinger) knew exactly where Tim Mills was right there in front of the car.
The jury began deliberations at 3:30 Wednesday and broek off in the evening; they will resume this morning.
Mr. Enfinger faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if found guilty of either of two murder charges against him.
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