Jurors watch murder suspect's meltdown on video

Yahoo

08-04-2025

Apr. 8—LIMA — Jurors in the murder trial of Michael Oliphant, charged with murder in the shooting death of Kirk Perine more than two years ago, on Tuesday viewed videos in which the Lima man made a string of unsolicited and seemingly incriminating statements surrounding his actions leading up to the discovery of Perine's body.
A string of officers from the Lima Police Department took the witness stand during Tuesday's portion of the trial. Jurors in viewed body camera and cruiser camera footage captured by several of those officers, but none appeared more damning than video from the body camera of Patrolman Bryce Bedwell.
Bedwell had escorted Oliphant to the Lima Police Department following his arrest as a suspect in two separate shootings on the afternoon of Feb. 15, 2023. While placed in a holding cell at the police station, video captured the suspect having a meltdown of sorts.
"I think I killed an innocent," Oliphant said to no one in particular. "I didn't mean to. I was going to shoot in the air. God will never forgive me if I killed someone. I made a mistake."
Jurors earlier heard similar comments made by Oliphant that were captured on the body camera of former LPD police officer Logan Mault. On that recording, captured as Oliphant was being subdued following a brief foot chase that ended on Cole Street, he is heard telling officers, "Don't shoot. I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I think I hit two people; I don't know. I hope I didn't hit nobody."
Oliphant, 23, of Lima, is facing two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault in connection with Perine's death on Rosedale Avenue on Feb. 15, 2023. The 59-year-old Perine was found by police inside a white Buick in the 100 block of North Rosedale Avenue. He had suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The felonious assault charges stem from shots Oliphant allegedly fired that same day in the direction of two employees at Feltz Chiropractic Office, 1517 Allentown Road.
Sgt. Darien Gaukin, an LPD patrolman at the time, was among the first law enforcement officer to arrive on North Rosedale Avenue that afternoon in response to a report of shots fired. He told jurors that upon his arrival he saw a white Buick in the street and a small crowd gathered. The windows of the vehicle were locked, Gaukin said, but he and another officer broke the windows and found Perine's body inside. A dog was seated on the man's lap, the patrolman said. Medical aid was provided but Perine was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics with the Lima Fire Department.
Video from Gaukin's body camera was played for jurors which showed Perine slumped inside the vehicle.
Patrolman Nevan Stolly was among other officers to responded to the call for service that day. He assisted in the apprehension of Oliphant on Cole Street near Oakland Parkway. Stolly testified he was responding to the shots fired call when he saw a male running. Stolly said he gave chase, along with other officers, and subdued Oliphant after the suspect stumbled and fell. The suspect was not armed but told officers a firearm could be found in a nearby alley.
Testimony in the trial will continue Wednesday morning.
The start of Michael Oliphant's trial was delayed briefly Tuesday morning when Judge Terri Kohlrieser cleared the courtroom to confer privately with attorneys and other principals in the case. Kohlrieser said it had come to the court's attention that a "security issue" had risen overnight with one of the jurors on the case.
Kohlrieser subsequently issued the following statement:
"The court would advise that no one should attempt to contact any juror in an active case and that such contact could be punishable by law."
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