Defense calls no witnesses in case involving former UA track coach; closing arguments Friday

Attorneys for a former University of Arizona track coach accused of attacking a student-athlete rested their case Thursday afternoon without calling a witness.

This means that the jury in Craig Carter’s case will only have heard from the former coach in the form of emails, text messages, voicemails and a 30-minute video interview, in which he admitted to grabbing thrower Baillie Gibson by the neck and threatening her with a box cutter.

Carter, 50, is on trial in Pima County Superior Court for two counts of aggravated assault — one with a deadly weapon — in connection with the April 20, 2015, incident in his office.

Thursday’s proceedings included the playing of Carter’s nearly 30-minute confession to police. Carter stared straight ahead or down at the defense table throughout the recording, which ended with him in tears saying, “she gets to walk away” and “she (expletive) with me so much.”

Carter’s attorneys have not denied the assault, but said in opening statements that the incident doesn’t meet the statute for an aggravated assault. Thursday, they described Carter’s box cutter as “old and dull.” Carter told police that he threw the box cutter out of his car following the incident because he knew he “screwed up.”

Gibson first told roommate and teammate Julie Labonté about her relationship with Carter when the two arrived at McKale Center on the day of the box cutter incident. Gibson broke into tears when she first told Labonté what was going on.

“That’s not Baillie, she doesn’t cry easily like that,” Labonté said.

When asked why Gibson was upset, Labonté took a minutes-long pause.

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“I was wondering what was going on and I kept asking her questions about what was bothering her,” Labonté said, fighting back tears. “She said that there were events that happened and there was a sexual relationship that happened a couple years back.”

Gibson told Labonté that she was drinking with friends in Eugene, Oregon, and called Carter for a ride back to her hotel. Gibson told Labonté that she doesn’t remember anything about that night, but woke up the next morning to signs that she’d had sex the night before. Later in the day, Carter showed Gibson a naked photo he’d taken of her, Labonté said.

Carter’s attorneys said Thursday that they believe Gibson fabricated the Eugene incident.

Labonté talked about Gibson’s demeanor when she returned from Carter’s office after the April 20 confrontation, saying “she was very silent but her eyes had a terrified look so I knew that something was going on.”

On cross examination, Carter’s attorneys focused on the relationship between Gibson and Labonté. They pointed out that Gibson did not disclose the nearly three-year relationship to Labonté, even though the women were best friends, roommates and UA teammates.

Labonté verified to Carter’s attorneys that she also saw no signs of strangulation when Gibson returned after the nearly two-hour April meeting.

Carter’s attorneys have focused much of their case on the sexual relationship, barely addressing the events of April 20.

Closing statements are scheduled for Friday morning, after which the case will be turned over to the jury.