Cranston trial day three — Prison inmate recalls alleged confession
It's day three of testimony in the trial of Shawn Cranston, the man accused of murdering Rebekah Byler, a pregnant Amish woman, in Sparta Township last year.
Wednesday morning, jurors heard from a fellow prison inmate who testified Cranston confessed to killing Byler.
According to that inmate, Cranston was surprised to find Byler in the home, and they 'surprised each other.'
Cranston told the inmate, 'The lady started screaming, he spun her around and started choking her, she didn't pass out so he slit her throat. He said she didn't die quick enough, so he shot her.'
Jurors also heard from a state police latent print examiner, who testified a pair of shoes taken from Cranston's house four days after Byler's murder, are a 'possible source' of the shoe impressions taken from the murder scene and previous burglaries in the area, along with two of the tires found on Cranston's Jeep.
Cranston is facing charges of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass.
Jennifer Mobilia is in court and will have full coverage of Wednesday's testimony during the evening news.
Related Stories:
Day two of testimony underway for Shawn Cranston murder trial
Trial begins for man accused of murdering pregnant Amish woman
Trial for man accused of killing pregnant Amish woman pushed to 2025
2024 Amish murder case transferred to Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
New information takes center stage in Rebekah Byler murder trial
Daughter of arrested suspect reacts to pregnant Amish woman murder case
List of seized items released in pregnant Amish woman homicide case
Murdered Amish woman suffered injuries to head, neck: investigators
Community remains in shock following Amish woman's death, Corry man's arrest
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