Prosecutors in Manny Ellis trial enter its 5th week by questioning his closest allies

TACOMA, Wash. – Five weeks into the trial in opposition to 3 Tacoma, Washington, law enforcement officials charged in the death of Manny Ellis and prosecutors will construct upon their case by questioning a few of Ellis’ closest allies in courtroom Tuesday.

On Monday, Cedric Armstrong, the person who ran the sober-living house the place Ellis lived, mentioned he was once glad previous at the evening he died, including, “he didn’t seem like he was off in any way.”

Also Monday, a lieutenant with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said that his company failed to seek out or gather witness cell phone movies ahead of finishing their investigation into Ellis’ dying.

The movies and witness statements are critical pieces of evidence in the case. They display Ellis with his fingers up in a give up place because the officials shoot a Taser at his chest and wrap an arm round his neck. The officials later advised investigators that Ellis attacked them and was once violent, one thing now not proven in the movies or seen by witnesses.

Ellis died March 3, 2020, after many times telling officials he may now not breathe whilst they carried out force as he lay susceptible at the pavement. The Pierce County clinical examiner dominated Ellis’ dying a murder brought about by oxygen deprivation from bodily restraint. Lawyers for the officials blame the dying on a prime stage of methamphetamine in Ellis’ device blended with a middle irregularity.

Officers Matthew Collins, 40, Christopher Burbank, 38, and Timothy Rankine, 34, are all on trial for second-degree manslaughter. Collins and Burbank are also charged with second-degree homicide. All 3 have pleaded now not responsible, are loose on bail and stay on paid depart by the Tacoma Police Department.

The trial is scheduled to renew Tuesday morning in Pierce County Superior Court, when a substance abuse counselor who handled Ellis is predicted to testify.