The trial of 33-year-old Lutavius Elmore of Spring Street Laurens began in Hillcrest Square yesterday with opening statements from the prosecution and defense. Assistant Solicitor Margaret Boykin told the jury that Elmore told his former girlfriend, “If I can’t have you, no one will,” then stabbed the victim 18 times after finding him sleeping with his former girlfriend at her Easy Road, Laurens home on Saturday, October 27th of 2018.
The prosecution described the murder victim, 26-years-old Mandez Sergio Lindsey of Greenville, as hard-working at ZF Transmissions and married with four stepchildren.
Prosecution said the girlfriend, Crystal Bluford, fled the house during the assault; but Elmore brought her back and made her help move the victim’s body, and that the victim’s clothing was burned.
In opening statements from the defense, Tristin Schaeffer told the jury of a belief by some that if a defendant lies, he’s guilty. He said this case is all based on what the defendant’s girlfriend said. He said “The state will claim that he is guilty because he lied. I want you to listen and pay attention and keep an open mind and at the end of the trial your choice is to decide if this is a self -defense case.”
Crystal Bluford, who said she was the defendant’s former girlfriend, was the first witness called. She said after meeting Elmore on Facebook, they became romantically involved. She said he would occasionally stay at her home on Easy Road but did not have a key. Ms. Bluford stated that she broke off the relationship with the defendant following an alteration, and then she changed the locks on the house for safety measures.
On the night before the early morning murder, she testified that the victim, who was just a friend, called her and said he needed a place to rest and that he was tired from work and was going to sleep at the rest stop, so she told him to sleep at her house.
In cross-examination of Ms. Bluford’s, texts and pictures between her and the victim were presented regarding the nature of her relationship with the victim. Judge Hocker sent the jury from the courtroom to deal with certain issues regarding the texts.
For this first trial since the pandemic lockdown, spectators were all seated within social distancing guidelines, leaving little room for latecomers. Some seats were taken by law students fulfilling school requirements to observe trials.
Everyone was required to wear a mask, except the lawyers when presenting their case and those on the witness stand. It was equipped with a a plexi glass screen .
The trail of Lutavius Elmore was to resume at 9:30 this morning.