HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes denied motions for judgment of acquittal filed by both defense attorneys Friday after the state rested its case in the attempted murder trial of Austin Drummond and Andre Brown.
Attorney Johnny Warren, representing Brown, argued the state had not presented sufficient evidence of premeditation or intent to support the attempted first-degree murder charge.
District Attorney Danny Goodman countered that Drummond and Brown had time to premeditate as they walked from their cell across the top tier and down a flight of stairs before the attack, and argued that stabbing Singleton 17 times across his head, neck and body was itself evidence of intent.
Hayes ruled the question of intent was for the jury to decide, noting testimony that the attack appeared to continue even after correctional officers arrived on scene, and that unit manager Alexus Moore testified Drummond handed her a bloodied knife following the incident.
“It appears that there is a sufficient amount of evidence before the jury on the elements of the offense,” Hayes said in denying the motions.
Nurse testifies as expert witness
Earlier Friday, registered nurse David “Kent” Mathis testified about treating Singleton’s injuries.
After a hearing outside the jury’s presence, Hayes qualified Mathis as an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of stabbings, but barred the state from asking him to offer an opinion on whether the wounds indicated an intent to kill, ruling that determination belonged to the jury alone.
Mathis testified Singleton suffered multiple stab wounds, including a 12-centimeter laceration near his hairline, and wounds to his hand, arm, shoulder and back. He testified Singleton’s vital signs indicated a risk of shock, prompting transport to an outside hospital.
On cross-examination by defense attorney Drew Farmer, Mathis acknowledged his written report did not use the word “puncture” and did not document the depth of most wounds.
Investigator testifies about weapon, delayed investigation
TDOC investigator Thomas Tharpe testified he was assigned to investigate the incident after joining the department’s Office of Investigations and Conduct in 2024, roughly a year after the incident occurred.
Tharpe testified there had been a shortage of investigators assigned to Northwest Correctional Complex at the time and that the case was not initially referred for criminal investigation.
He then testified that homemade weapons at the facility are often wrapped in material to protect the person using them from injury, and offered his opinion that an object seen leaving a hand in the surveillance video was such material coming loose during the struggle.
Under cross-examination by Farmer, Tharp acknowledged he had never previously mentioned that theory prior to the defense bringing it up on Thursday, and agreed he could not identify the specific object, its color or its origin with certainty.
The state rested its case just after 10 a.m. Friday morning. Court reconvened at 10:35, with the defense calling their first witness.
