Jurors have seen dozens of photographs in the first two days of James Alex Fields' murder trial in Charlottesville for the 2017 death of Heather Heyer. See photos.
In this photo presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence, James Alex Fields (right) is seen holding a shield during the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, on Aug. 12, 2017. During opening statements, prosecutors asked jurors to observe Fields’ behavior prior to the crash that killed Heather Heyer to determine his state of mind and whether he intended to kill.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
James Alex Fields’ Dodge Challenger is at top of photo, near where 4th street crosses the Charlottesville Mall. The driver of the minivan, Lizete Short, got out of her vehicle at the intersection with Water Street, and is seen Snapchatting on her phone. The driver of the Toyota sedan, Tadrint Washington, had noticed Fields’ Challenger earlier, near the Mall. Fields soon sped down 4th, killing Heather Heyer, according to prosecutors.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
James Alex Fields’ Dodge Challenger speeds down 4th Street, a split-second before crashing into protesters. His car stopped when he hit the rear of Tadrint Washington’s Toyota Camry, which ran into the minivan parked in front of it.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
James Alex Fields crashed his Dodge Challenger into protesters, and stopped when he ran into the Toyota Camry. The driver of the minivan, Lizete Short, testified she was hit by her own vehicle, and can be seen holding onto the hood. The photo was taken from a parking garage on Water Street.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
In opening statements prosecutors said witnesses heard a car bottoming-out on the speed bump leading from the Charlottesville Mall down 4th Street, toward the fatal crash at Water Street.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
A passenger side-view mirror was recovered on 4th Street, near where James Alex Fields had crashed his Dodge Challenger into a group of passengers.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
After the crash, James Alex Fields stopped his Dodge Challenger on Monticello Avenue, near the intersection of Blenheim Avenue, in the Belmont section of Charlottesville. In opening statements, the defense said he was not driving evasively.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
When James Alex Fields stopped his Dodge Challenger on Monticello Avenue, it had no passenger side mirror, a severely damaged windshield, and a water bottle lodged near the windshield wipers.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
After he stopped on Monticello Avenue, James Alex Fields’ Dodge Challenger had cracks in its rear window, and a pair of sunglasses wedged in the rear spoiler. In opening statements the defense said Fields car had been hit with bats and sticks, and that he feared for his life.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
James Alex Fields’ phone was found sitting on the passenger seat of his Dodge Challenger. Police got a search warrant to learn what was on the phone. It’s not clear whether it was found on his cellphone, but prosecutors will introduce a meme that Fields posted online 3 months before the crash, showing a car crashing into protesters. Prosecutors claim it was a “blueprint” for the Charlottesville crash that killed Heather Heyer.
(Prosecution evidence)
Prosecution evidence
James Alex Fields’ Dodge Challenger was brought to Tommy Shull’s Wrecker and Repair Service, where it was scoured by crime scene investigators. Crime scene tape on the garage was secured to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
(Prosecution evidence)
WASHINGTON — In the first two days of the trial of James Alex Fields for the murder of Heather Heyer during the August 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, jurors have heard differing stories about what happened — they have also seen photographic evidence.
The jury has gotten its first look at evidence presented by the prosecution, aimed at convincing the 12 jurors and four alternates that Fields drove his Dodge Challenger into a crowd of counter-protesters on 4th Street with premeditation, which is a required element for a first-degree murder conviction.
The defense told jurors in opening statements that, amid the tension and violence on the streets of Charlottesville during the Unite the Right rally, he “feared for his safety and was scared to death.”
After the first two days of testimony, prosecution evidence was made available to the public. The defense will have the opportunity to present evidence after the prosecution makes its case.
The fatal Aug. 12, 2017 crash that killed 32-year-old Heyer came after a series of violent clashes broke out on the streets of Charlottesville between white nationalists and counter-protesters. A report commissioned by the city later criticized the police response as ineffective. The intersection where the fatal crash occurred had been blocked off with only a plastic sawhorse.
Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.
