While prosecutors presented a photo of Kara Akins naked and strangled to death next to a Christmas tree in her home, accused killer Lawrence Goodine stared at her picture with a blank face and took notes on a notepad.
On Thursday, Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Gary Starnes sent the first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping case against the former Chattanooga police officer to the grand jury.
Starnes gave people a chance to leave the courtroom before multiple photos of the crime scene and Akins' body were presented as evidence. Prosecutors described her body as extremely battered. An almost empty 1.75 liter plastic bottle of vodka was on the coffee table next to the alleged murder scene.
Goodine is accused of killing Akins, 48, in November.
Both Goodine and Akins were under no-contact orders for each other when Akins was killed, court filings show. They were arrested in connection with a domestic violence incident one month prior to Akins' death.
(READ MORE: Man accused in strangulation death of Chattanooga woman appears in court)
A Ring door bell video, which was played in court, appears to show Goodine and Akins in an argument outside her home on Carr Street on the evening of Nov. 28.
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Former Chattanooga officer’s murder, aggravated kidnapping case bound over to the grand jury
"Stop," Akins said repeatedly in the video. "Why are you doing this?"
It appeared Goodine had his left arm around her neck while he dragged Akins into the house, prosecutors said.
He could allegedly be seen running down the street at 3:15 a.m., about six hours after they arrived.
Akins was originally thought to have died from an overdose, Bill Speek, Goodine's attorney, said.
Her blood alcohol concentration at the time was .254, which is over three times the legal limit for driving, according to Speek. Her urine sample also tested positive for cocaine.
Speek asked prosecutors if Akins was housing homeless people at her residence, but Starnes sustained an objection to the question due to a lack of relevance. Goodine's defense is geared toward the possibility of a substance-related death and the possibility of a different person being responsible.
There was a side door to Akins' house left open, which Chattanooga police did not dust for fingerprints, Speek said.
Goodine smiled repeatedly while Speek raised these points, and it appeared that he was holding back laughter at certain times while Speek cross-examined a police officer.
"Mr. Goodine is definitely a danger to the community," Starnes said at the end of the preliminary hearing.
Goodine worked for the Chattanooga Police Department for two years and was fired in 2007. He was accused of violating procedures, filing false reports and stealing money on the job.
He faced criminal charges in connection with the incident but was found not guilty on all counts.
Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.