Defense opening: After
#GarethPursehouse ran into
#AmieHarwick in Jan. 2020, it "sent him into a deep, debilitating depression that he was not able to overcome." He was messaging Amie, begging and pleading with her for a chance to talk to her.
Defense: The only way he could get relief from that pain was to go talk to
#AmieHarwick. The only question the jury needs to answer is what did
#GarethPursehouse intend to do when he broke into her house? He never intended on killing her. He is not guilty of premeditated murder
Defense: After
#GarethPursehouse ran into
#AmieHarwick at awards ceremony he was distraught, sobbing uncontrollably. He later went to her table & asked if they could talk. They sat on a bench and talked for about 45 mins. ext day Pursehouse texted Amie pleading with her to talk.
Defense:
#GarethPursehouse left
#AmieHarwick this voicemail begging her to talk to him.
Defense:
#GarethPursehouse felt he couldn't continue to live with this pain. If he wasn't able to have a conversation with
#AmieHarwick then it wasn't worth living. In his despair, he grabbed a nicotine filled syringe from his house... (this caused the judge to ask for sidebar
Defense: There is evidence that
#GarethPursehouse brought a nicotine-filled syringe to
#AmieHarwick's home. He brought it intending to kill himself.
Defense: He breaks into her house and waits for hours. When
#AmieHarwick came home, there was a struggle. Amie's roommate shouts up the stairs for Amie.
Defense: One possible scenario is that
#AmieHarwick was hanging from the outside of that balcony and fell. Defense also shows a prior photo of Harwick posing on the balcony railing. "She had a comfort level with that.”
Defense: When
#AmieHarwick's roommate shouted up the stairs a struggle happened between Harwick and
#GarethPursehouse. Amie then ran to her balcony to get away and she fell to her death. He never intended on killing her. We ask you to convict him of a crime that fits the facts.
