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Medical Examiner Testifies In Ellicott Homicide Trial

MAYVILLE – Graphic details were shared in court Thursday regarding the death of Scott Blake.

Blake, 57, was killed Jan. 6, 2023 after being shot in the head. Tucker Richard, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder in his death.

Dr. Tara Mahar from the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office was brought to the witness stand in the trial. She was the doctor who examined Blake’s body after it was brought to her office by a coroner.

Mahar described the difference between a slug and shot pellets, sometimes called birdshot, fired from a shotgun.

She noted how birdshot spreads apart the further it is from the target it strikes.

Mahar said Blake was shot with birdshot. The entrance of the bullet was just in front of the left ear.

She noted how she discovered some of the pellets inside his head.

Based on the entrance wound and the tightness of the birdshot, Mahar said she believes the “range of fire was under 4 or 5 feet.”

During opening arguments, District Attorney Jason Schmidt stated that Richard shot Blake at close range.

Mahar described the process of brain tissue exiting a body in a typical shooting of the head. She noted in her professional career, she has examined many self-inflicted head shot wounds.

Before she described the process of brain tissue exiting a body, Judge David Foley removed the jury from the room.

Public Defender Nathan Barone argued that Schmidt was trying to “back door” evidence with her testimony that he didn’t previously disclose.

After Foley stated he would allow Mahar to make general statements about brain matter, Barone continued to voice his objections.

As Foley headed back to his chambers, Barone and Schmidt got into a verbal dispute. Barone began complaining directly to Schmidt and he responded in a loud voice, “Don’t talk to me. Talk to your client.”

Schmidt repeated himself multiple times, growing louder each time and Barone began yelling back.

After the brief argument, the two returned to their tables and the jury was brought back in.

After court Thursday, Barone declined to comment on the source of the argument, other than to say it was over a “procedure.” He also said he apologized to Schmidt.

During Mahar’s testimony, she also said that Blake had a knife wound in the middle of his back. She said due to the trail of blood, it appeared Blake was standing when he was stabbed.

During opening statements, Barone had alleged that Blake had kicked in Richard’s door and hit him over the head with a shotgun. Richard responded by stabbing him with a pocketknife.

Earlier in the day, Det. Craig Damon with the Jamestown Police Department was on the witness stand.

He was asked by the defense if he believed Richard’s door was kicked in. Damon noted there were no footprints on the door, but did say the frame appeared to be damaged.

“This door could have been forced in,” he said.

Before Blake, the last reported homicide within the town of Ellicott occurred May 30, 2008, when 31-year-old Quincy Turner was shot and killed on Girts Road near the Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport.

Richard’s case is the first murder trial during Schmidt’s tenure as district attorney after being elected in 2020. There have been other murder cases that were pleaded out, as well as two manslaughter cases that were brought to trial.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Richard’s trial is delayed until Tuesday.

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