Trial continues

The trial of Christopher Luke Pratt, 39, of Marshall continued this morning after a delay in getting underway due to some objections by defense attorney J. Thomas Schaeffer over his lack of access to the 911 tape, the curriculum vitae of domestic violence expert witness, Maureen McNamara, and the victim's medical doctor. Testifying this morning were various 911 dispatch and county officials verifying the 911 recording and that phone calls were made from Pratt's cell to his home phone number after his arrest. The trial was scheduled to resume at 1:15 p.m. with the testimony of Pratt's ex wife, Susan Harrington, to whom he was married for 9 years and with whom he has two sons. The trial in front of Judge Stephen Miller is scheduled to resume Monday.

Pratt trial completes first day of testimony

The alleged victim in the assault trial of Marshall man Christopher Luke Pratt painted a picture of a man who sometimes behaved like an animal as she spent most of today on the witness stand detailing her relationship with the former fiance of missing Marshall woman, Mary Denise Lands. From their first dinner date in March 2006 when he allegedly answered his door in hunter's cammoflage clothing and rabbit blood on his hands to the next day when he showed up at her home and urinated on her privacy fence stating that he was "marking my territory," her testimony included many other descriptions of bizarre behavior that emerged during their 18 month relationship that ended on June 24 when he allegedly threw chairs at her, squeezed her so tight in a bear hug that her finger bled and threw her keys over the head of her 10 year old son while trying to prevent her from leaving their Fredonia Township home. She said he angrily paced during the altercation and that at one point he even growled as well as laughed. One day as she sat at the dining room table paying her bills, he allegedly said to her "out of the blue," 'have you ever been zip tied and left in the woods?'" During another argument, he allegedly said to her, "Go ahead and leave but your spine will be all over the back yard before you can get to the car." Pratt's attorney, however, tried to paint the victim as someone who has a habit of calling police on her boyfriends, saying she'd made 47 complaints to the Marshall Police Department, 11 to the Jackson Police and repeated police reports to the Calhoun County Sheriff's office over the years about other men in her past. Also testifying today were her two sons, ages 14 and 11 and Michigan State Police Trooper Richard Pazder who testified he took firearms, knives and zip ties out of Pratt's "game room" which he would not allow the victim to enter. One knife, he said, was sent to the crime lab for DNA testing "because..." but he did not finish the sentence.
Lands, 39, was living with Pratt in Marshall in March 2004 when she vanished after he said they fought over his custody issues. That case has not been permitted as part of the current trial in which Pratt's ex wife, Su Harrington testified yesterday she too was also a victim of abuse in the home as she was questioned during a pretrial motion hearing. She is expected to return to the stand to testify before the seven man, seven woman jury.

Grapplers kick off winter sports season Thursday

The Marshall High School wrestling team kicks off its 2007-08 season Thursday night at the Pennfield Quad meet, which also features Charlotte and Portland. The meet begins at 5:30 p.m. at Pennfield High School. Marshall's first year coach Greg Mahrle, orange shirt, watched as his players began their  practice Wednesday.

MHS boys' basketball play in annual red/black game

The Marshall High School boys varsity basketball team played the annual red/black game Tuesday. James Hinske, left, No. 33 tries to block a layup attempt early in the contest. Hinske also won the slam dunk contest prior to the game. Also before the game, the girls varsity team was introduced. The girls will be seeking their 12th straight district title when they open the season at home Friday vs. Sturgis. The varsity contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The boys' varsity open their season at home Tuesday, Dec. 4 against Albion, the team that eliminated the Redhawks in the district tournament last season.

Jury chosen for Pratt trial

A 14-member jury was seated at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the opening day of the trial of Christopher Luke Pratt of Marshall on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, interfering with telecommunications device (telephone), domestic violence and unlawful imprisonment for incidents that allegedly occurred in his 15 1/2 Mile Road home in June. After a 9 a.m. motion hearing on whether to allow prior acts evidence, Pratt's ex wife Su Harrington and the victim in this case, Norrene Parker, testified about their alleged abuse by Pratt. The prior acts will be allowed during the trial which gets underway with opening arguments Wednesday at 9 a.m. by defense attorney Thomas Schaeffer and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dan Buscher. Pratt is also scheduled for a separate trial Dec. 4 on third degree criminal sexual conduct. And, though he has not been charged with a crime in connection to her disappearance, Pratt was the fiance of missing Marshall woman Mary Denise Marshall Lands who has not been seen since she allegedly argued with Pratt in their Marshall home March 12, 2004.(c)Marshall Chronicle

Crashes keeping public safety agencies busy

Marshall, Pennfield and Albion area public safety agencies have spent the afternoon scrambling to slide-offs and rollovers. Preliminary reports reveal that in this accident on northbound I-69 at Michigan Avenue, a single car crash sent one man to Oaklawn Hospital. The man was not seriously injured but complained that he "hurt all over." That crash occurred at about 2:25 p.m. Then, at about 3 p.m., police, fire and ambulance in the City of Marshall were called to the 600 block of East Drive for a personal injury accident that appeared to be minor with no apparent transport to a hospital and at 3:22 p.m., two cars and a semi collided on eastbound I-94 just east of Exit 112/Partello Road in Marengo Township. Another accident on Albion Road led to the northbound lane being shut down. No other information was available at the time of this report.

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City to consider 40-year power purchase contract

The city council of Marshall will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Nov. 28 to consider a 40-year, multi-million dollar power purchase contract with AMP Ohio.

Dark Horse granted tax abatement

The Dark Horse Brewery will get a 12-year, 50-percent tax abatement on $190,000 in building improvements to expand the brewery which is now in an industrial development district, the Marshall City Council agreed tonight. See more in the Saturday Chronicle.

City to get cypher lock for airport office

The city of Marshall expects to have a standard cypher lock on the Brooks Field office building for pilots to use to access the lounge, restrooms etc. now that there is no fixed base operator staffing the city owned airport, the city council learned tonight. Fuel sales are still at a standstill, however. See more on this in the next Chronicle.

Swimmer Olivia Gary earns All-State honors

Marshall High School junior Olivia Gary earned All-State honors Saturday, Nov. 17 by finishing eighth in the 50-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100-yard freestyle at the Division 3 State Swimming Championships in Holland. Gary, who said she was not feeling well, qualified for the finals after qualifying in the top 16 in both events a day earlier. In the 50-yard final, Gary finished with a time of 25.70 seconds for eighth place. In the 100-yard freestyle final, Gary was eighth with with a time of 55.78 seconds, but moved up to seventh after the swimmer ahead of her was disqualified. Look for more on Gary's accomplishment's in Saturday's Chronicle.

Poll Results

Thank you to everyone who voted in our recent poll about who should be allowed to hunt deer on city property. The multiple choice question stemmed from a City of Marshall policy that allows only city employees and immediate family members to shoot deer on 80 acres of undeveloped land south of the industrial park. Here's what you had to say:

Homer woman dies in crash

A 27-year-old Homer woman was killed Friday when the car she was driving west on J Drive South entered the intersection at 25 1/2 Mile Road into the path of a southbound vehicle at 5:20 p.m., according to a report by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. Killed was Cheryl Louise Frederick. Injured were the occupants of the other car, Stacey Lynn Montgomery, 50, of Homer and her passenger Bronwen Thomas Moorman, 78, of Homer. They were taken to Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall for treatment for non life-threatening injuries, deputies reported.

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