Day 2: Prosecution Rests in Trimble Murder Trial

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former jail inmate Sheldon Anter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The prosecution has rested in the murder trial of Jerome Barrett. Inmates from the Metro jail testified against Barrett on Thursday.

Barrett's accused of killing 9-year-old Marcia Trimble more than 30 years ago in her Green Hills Neighborhood.

Prosecutors put two jail inmates on the stand who said Barrett admitted killing Trimble, but not raping her.

"He killed Marcia Trimble. He didn't rape her. He killed her. That's why his DNA was not in her, but on her," said former jail inmate Sheldon Anter.

DNA experts testified about stains found on Trimble's clothing. Earlier in the trial a medical examiner said the autopsy of the 9-year-old did not show injuries to suggest a sexual assault.

However, other forensic scientists found semen on her jeans and blouse. A DNA analysis expert from the FBI, Jennifer Luttman, said semen found on the blouse sealed the deal for them.

"The DNA matched. Mr. Barrett's DNA matched the DNA profile from both of those semen stains found on the blouse," said Luttman.

The prosecution rested their case around 3 p.m. and then it was the defense team's turn. They started with two former Metro police officers.

They testified that they had searched the neighbor's garage where Marcia's body would later be found and she was not there indicating that the body had been moved from somewhere else.

Other officers testified for prosecutors that the body could have easily been missed.