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WARREN -- Opening statements and testimony began Wednesday in the murder trial of Kenyanna Pennock, who faces murder, felonious assault and reckless homicide charges related to the November 2022 death of Jesare'e Harris outside of Parkplace 24 Tavern, 2185 Parkman Road, Warren.
In opening arguments, Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Burnett said Pennock, 37, intentionally struck Harris with a car and drove with Harris on the hood at 50 mph before slamming on the brakes and throwing her from the vehicle as Pennock drove away.
Burnett said as a result of Pennock's actions, Harris suffered multiple skull fractures and brain bleeding. She died days later.
One of Pennock's attorneys, Kevin Daley, argued Pennock hit her breaks before Harris jumped on the car, telling jurors his client was leaving the bar in fear for her safety and that of her brother, Darryl Pennock, after he had been involved in an altercation with what the defense characterized as a "gang attack" by a large group of men and women that included Harris.
The defense stated the dispute was over an accusation someone made against Pennock's brother, allegeding he killed one of their relatives, Kevin M. Daniels, who was shot to death and found on Burnett East Road in Warren Township in 2019.
POLICE INTERVIEW
Burnett played an interview with Warren Police Department detective Nicole Smith, who also testified about her conversation with Pennock shortly after the incident occurred.
Pennock told the detective, "I told her, get off my car."
Smith asked, "And did she?"
"She kept holding on," Pennock said.
Pennock told the detective she called 911 when Harris jumped on the car, also telling them that "all these cars are chasing me."
No criminal charges had been filed against Pennock or anyone involved that night as police and detectives worked to piece together what had unfolded during a "chaotic" crime scene.
Pennock said she drove with Harris on the hood of her car as far as Subway.
Pennock told the detective she stopped and Harris then started, "walking back to the bar," according to Pennock's recollection.
Later though, Pennock told Smith she stopped near Lit'l Mac Food Store, which is 0.2 miles from Subway, to allow Harris to get off her car.
"Did she get off?" Smith asked.
"I believe so, yeah," Pennock replied.
Pennock said she drove back to the bar to check on her brother, but said she was met by a group of attackers.
Burnett asked Smith if video footage showed any signs of an attack on Pennock, to which Smith answered, "no."
VIDEO EVIDENCE
Surveillance camera footage from that night was played frequently throughout Wednesday's proceedings. The footage consisted of body camera footage from Warren police Sgt. Trevor Sumption, who also testified Wednesday, along with footage from the bar parking lot and dash camera.
Also shown was footage from a person's home on Parkman Road that shows the moment Harris allegedly fell from Pennock's car, sustaining life-threatening injuries from which she died days later.
Detective Eric Laprocina compiled the footage to create a time reconciliation that time stamps what unfolds at points throughout the video evidence.
A speed analysis completed by the detective determined the distance and speed of Pennock's vehicle from the point she left the bar with Harris on her hood to the time Harris eventually ended up in the street.
He testified his results showed Pennock traveled with Harris on the hood of her car for about 2,495 feet for at least 34 seconds at a rate of speed of about 50 miles per hour.
The defense contested the detective's findings, arguing there were several instances where Pennock hit her brakes. The detective agreed.
FRIEND OF HARRIS TESTIFIES
The last witness of the day, Katrina Ardis, found her friend of more than 10 years, Harris, in the middle of the road that night.
She testified she turned Harris on her back, but she was not breathing. She then said she performed CPR that allowed Harris to regain her breath as paramedics arrived.
Ardis testified she witnessed several people, including Harris, fighting with Pennock's brother, but she did not see anyone going after the defendant as the defense had stated throughout the day.
During cross examination, another attorney for Pennock, David Engler, asked if Ardis was aware of a fight that started over an allegation over who killed Daniels, but Ardis said she did not recall that being a reason for the dispute.
Testimony will continue this morning.