http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/mac...ancallis-man-accused-of-killing-april-millsapThe first day of the James VanCallis trial has wrapped up.
VanCallis is accused of murdering 14-year-old April Millsap back in July of 2014. He's charged with first degree murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.
The day she was killed, April Millsap was out walking her dog, Penny, on the Macomb Orchard trail in Armada.
During opening statements, prosecutors said Millsap died of blunt head trauma and asphyxia due to neck compression.
April Millsap's mom, Jennifer, described her daughter as quiet and independent. After April didn't come home that day, Millsap's mom said she went out to the trail to look for her and was later told that her daughter's body had been found.
The defense attorney told jurors there's no DNA linking VanCallis to this murder.
Azhar Sheik said "All I'm asking you to do is to keep your mind open. If you just listen, I think we'll be okay."
The prosecution talked about what the live-in girlfriend of VanCallis claimed she saw that night.
"She said he (VanCallis) was cleaning the bottom of his shoes with hand sanitizer."
Prosecutors told the jury that April was "stomped to death".
http://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...statements-armada-teen-murder-trial/79064574/Jurors in the James Van Callis murder trial Thursday got to see a 63-minute animated video of the path April Millsap's cell phone took around the time the 14-year-old Armada girl was killed last summer. Though the defense tried to refute GPS accuracy, it gave jurors a compelling argument about what happened July 24, 2014.
FBI special agent Matthew Zentz took the stand in Macomb Co. Circuit Court as he showed the video pulled from the Sports Tracker fitness app from April's phone. Prosecutors tried to build the case April was walking her dog, Penny, on the Macomb Orchard Trail when she was brutally attacked and murdered by 34-year-old James Van Callis.
The video animation showed April's phone entering the trail at walking speed then about halfway through the animation, the phone stops and zig zags then speeds up - that's when prosecutors say April was attacked by Van Callis. Prosecutors say Van Callis beat April to death and sped away on his motorcycle with her phone and backpack.
Prosecutors contend Van Callis murdered April sometime between 6:30 p.m. and 6:44 p.m. on July 24, just minutes before she texted her boyfriend, "I think I almost got kidnapped," at 6:28 p.m.
Defense attorneys tried to refute GPS accuracy, and have argued no DNA links Van Callis to the murder.
https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/michigan-man-convicted-stomping-girl-222953604.htmlMonday, a Michigan jury found a 34-year-old man guilty of the 2014 murder, kidnapping and attempted sexual assault of 14-year-old April Millsap, PEOPLE confirms.
James VanCallis will likely be punished to spend the rest of his life behind bars when he is sentenced on March 30, according to court officials.
April's body was found along a hiking trail in Armada, Michigan, on July 24, 2014, and medical examiners were able to determine she died from blunt force trauma and neck compression. Police claim April's bra had been ripped off and that she was found in a wooded area with her pants and underwear around her ankles.
Authorities claim VanCallis killed April by stomping and beating her to death with his motorcycle helmet and law enforcement officials tell PEOPLE they believe the killer took several precautions to evade capture.
Prosecutors allege that VanCallis wiped his helmet clean of the girl's DNA and that they were never able to locate the clothing that he was seen wearing in surveillance video the night of the murder.
AndI so wanted for this verdict! Thank you for reasoning & a GUILTY verdict!