Defense motions for mistrial in marine murder trial

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-It is day six of the capitol murder trial for the two men accused of shooting and killing 26-year-old marine Jonathan Price during an attempted robbery outside of Austin City Saloon four years ago.

Price’s wife, Megan, was also shot in the attack, but survived. Thursday kicked off with the judge denying a motion for mistrial by the defense.

Then the defense began its case by calling up multiple witnesses who said they were out with one of the defendants the night of the shooting.

The defense called Joy Burch, who said she was with Dawan Mulazim the whole night of June 20th, 2014, and was inside a strip club with Mulazim when Jonathan Price was murdered.

Burch told jurors she met Mulazim a few weeks before that June night and exchanged phone numbers.

She says Mulazim showed up to her house unannounced the night of June 20th and asked if she wanted to got get some drinks.

Burch said she and Mulazim drove in a grey car, stopped at a liquor store for cigars, and then drove to a strip club off Richmond Road, where they stayed late into the night.

According to police, Price was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. that same night.

The defense also called another witness to the stand who corroborated seeing Mulazim at the strip club that night.

When cross examined by prosecutors, both witnesses stood firm on the date and times they were with or saw Mulazim.

Throughout the trial, the Commonwealth has argued Quincinio Canada was the passenger in Dawan Mulazim’s car in the liquor store surveillance video.

Burch’s testimony seems to challenge that argument.

The defense is expected to wrap up its case Thursday.

Closing arguments are expected on Monday morning when this trial resumes.