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 Carterβs 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 β one with a deadly weapon β in connection with the April 20, 2015, incident in his office.
Thursdayβs proceedings included the playing of Carterβs 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, βshe gets to walk awayβ and βshe (expletive) with me so much.β
Carterβs attorneys have not denied the assault, but said in opening statements that the incident doesnβt meet the statute for an aggravated assault. Thursday, they described Carterβs box cutter as βold and dull.β Carter told police that he threw the box cutter out of his car following the incident because he knew he βscrewed up.β
Gibson first told roommate and teammate Julie LabontΓ© 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 LabontΓ© what was going on.
βThatβs not Baillie, she doesnβt cry easily like that,β LabontΓ© said.
When asked why Gibson was upset, LabontΓ© took a minutes-long pause.
βI was wondering what was going on and I kept asking her questions about what was bothering her,β LabontΓ© said, fighting back tears. βShe said that there were events that happened and there was a sexual relationship that happened a couple years back.β
Gibson told LabontΓ© that she was drinking with friends in Eugene, Oregon, and called Carter for a ride back to her hotel. Gibson told LabontΓ© that she doesnβt remember anything about that night, but woke up the next morning to signs that sheβd had sex the night before. Later in the day, Carter showed Gibson a naked photo heβd taken of her, LabontΓ© said.
Carterβs attorneys said Thursday that they believe Gibson fabricated the Eugene incident.
LabontΓ© talked about Gibsonβs demeanor when she returned from Carterβs office after the April 20 confrontation, saying βshe was very silent but her eyes had a terrified look so I knew that something was going on.β
On cross examination, Carterβs attorneys focused on the relationship between Gibson and LabontΓ©. They pointed out that Gibson did not disclose the nearly three-year relationship to LabontΓ©, even though the women were best friends, roommates and UA teammates.
LabontΓ© verified to Carterβs attorneys that she also saw no signs of strangulation when Gibson returned after the nearly two-hour April meeting.
Carterβs 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.