Defense rests in Dayton hit and run murder trial

Douglas Alvey, right, watches as his attorneysreview notes during a break in the trial on Wednesday in Rhea County Circuit Criminal Court.
Douglas Alvey, right, watches as his attorneysreview notes during a break in the trial on Wednesday in Rhea County Circuit Criminal Court.

The defense rested without putting on any witnesses this morning in the Dayton, Tenn., hit and run murder trial of Douglas Alvey, and the accused man elected not to take the stand in his own defense.

That means the case being heard today in Rhea County Circuit Criminal Court now goes to the jury picked Tuesday in Dunlap from residents of Sequatchie County. The jury was sequestered in Dayton for the duration of the trial.

Alvey is charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 6, 2016, hit and run that fatally injured 60-year-old Walter Hale.

Jurors will consider the charge of first-degree murder and nine lesser-included offenses ranging from criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder to assault on the first indicted count against Alvey. The jury also will consider a second count of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death.

The state will begin it's closing statements in a few minutes, followed by the defense. The state, by law, also gets to give a second closing statement before the jury begins deliberations.

A verdict is likely before the end of the day.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.

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