IRON COUNTY -- Update 7:13 p.m. EST
The trial of a former state police trooper charged with criminal sexual conduct is coming to a close.
David Morikawa, 37, of Crystal Falls is charged with two counts of second degree CSC.
Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases but not before the jury heard some interesting testimony.
Wednesday, the victim took the stand, testifying that Morikawa touched her breasts and butt and attempted to make her touch him one night in July 2009.
She is Morikawa’s cousin and was 12 years old at the time of the alleged incident.
That testimony was contradicted when the defense called Morikawa's wife, Jenna, to the stand.
"At any point did David come home that night?" asked defense attorney Grant Carlson.
"No," responded Jenna.
"Are you sure?" Carlson asked.
"Absolutely," she said.
Jenna testified her husband was at work when the alleged incident took place and wouldn't have been able to commit the crime.
The defense also called the victim's aunt, Loni Sichi, who testified that the victim told her after the alleged incident that she was never touched inappropriately by anyone. She said they spoke generally and not specifically about Morikawa.
But the prosecution had their own side of the story for the jury.
Michigan State Police Sergeant Christine Grabowski pointed out inconsistencies in Morikawa's police activity log the night of the incident and questioned his character.
"Can you come to a conclusion or opinion as to his credibility and veracity of any truthfulness? Do you have an opinion?" asked special prosecutor Michael Stein.
"Yes I do,” said Grabowski. "He is not credible."
The prosecution also called Thomas Cottrell, an expert on child sexual abuse counseling, to shed some light on why some members of the victim's family didn't immediately call the police.
"Most families are reluctant to deal with this in any forthright way,” said Cottrell. “They're very reluctant to go to the authorities. They're reluctant to take it outside that nuclear family."
Closing arguments will begin Thursday morning with jury deliberation expected shortly after.
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Update 3:17 p.m. EST
The defense and prosecution rested their cases Wednesday afternoon.
Closing arguments will take place Thursday morning in Iron County Circuit Court, followed by judge instructions and jury deliberation.
On Wednesday, the defense called former Michigan State Trooper David Morikawa's wife, Jenna, to the stand. She said her husband was at work between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m., which is when the alleged incident took place.
The defense also called the victim's aunt, Loni Sichi, who had stated that the victim had told her sometime after the alleged incident that she had never been inappropriately touched by anyone. This is speaking generally, not about the case.
Morikawa chose not to testify in the case.
After the defense rested, Michigan State Police Sergeant Christine Grabowski was called to the stand. She pointed out inconsistencies in Morikawa's daily log and radio log on the night of the alleged incident. She also testified that in her experience of working with Morikawa, he was not a credible person.
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The prosecution has rested its case in the trial of the former Michigan State Trooper charged with two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct.
The victim testified in Iron County Circuit Court Wednesday morning, saying the defendant, 37-year-old David Morikawa, touched her breasts and her butt. During cross examination, the defense tried to point out the inconsistencies in her testimony, compared to previous statements and interviews.
Also testifying for the prosecution, an expert witness who is a child sexual abuse counselor. The counselor spoke about how victims can recall events of a situation.
The defense will begin their case after the recess.
The trial is scheduled for three days, but may go to four.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC