Day two of Joesph McAlpin’s murder trial began with the words of a son who walked in to find his mother and stepfather dead inside their Cleveland car dealership.
It’s a unique trial, in that McAlpin is representing himself with just state-appointed advisors to help. Today, he had an opportunity to question the son who discovered his mother, who had been shot and killed at their dealership "Mr Cars."
But before beginning his cross-examination, McAlpin himself expressed his condolences to the son.
"Before I start, even though I understand the scenario of the situation, I just want you to know that I really, for what it’s worth...my deepest condolences to your loss," McAlpin said. "I don’t even know if that would be enough. I just want to let you know that I have my condolences towards you."
The son of Trina Tomola and stepson of Mike Kuznik gave no response. Before that exchange, he had testified about the night he had found his mom dead when his parents didn’t come home with dinner on Good Friday 2017.
The 911 call the son made was also played in court.
"I can’t go in there," he can be heard saying. "My mom’s laying dead on the ground."
The witness said it was something he couldn’t bear to see. Yelling for help, he he didn't realize his stepfather had also been killed.
"I barely remember anything from the actual event to a year after," he told the court. "I was living in a haze."
During a short cross examination, McAlpin questioned the time of the call that was made by the parent’s daughter—the last to speak with them that night. Phone records show the call was made around 5:30 p.m.
Prosecutors later spent the afternoon showing enhanced surveillance video which they say shows SUVs being moved around the dealership and three people coming in and out of the building. For the next hour, no activity.
The trial continues Thursday with more surveillance video to show what happened after that hour-long standstill. McAlpin is facing the death penalty if convicted.