Murfreesboro, TN - There is little factual dispute in the reckless homicide trial of former Detective Sergeant Ronald Killings, accused of causing a fatal accident when his unmarked patrol car struck and killed Lakeisha White, an 11-year-old pedestrian, in July 2008. The only real issue for the jury is whether White’s death was a tragic accident or a criminal act.

Testimony began Tuesday in a Murfreesboro, Tennessee courtroom. Given the high profile nature of the trial, jurors were selected from Chattanooga—more than 100 miles southeast–and are housed in a hotel for the duration of the trial.

Emotions were running high on the first day. Even before opening statements, a spectator was expelled from the courtroom. White’s grandmother, Brenda Carneal, reacted to a pro forma not guilty plea that was pronounced by Killings’s attorney on his behalf. She was escorted out of the courtroom and could be heard speaking loudly in the hallway. She didn’t return to court.

Jurors then heard opening statements and testimony from four Murfreesboro police officers who responded to the scene and investigated what was initially ruled an accident.

Killings was working a 2:00 p.m. to midnight shift on July 17, 2008.  At 8:43 p.m., he was en route to back up an officer who needed help. The officer had located some stolen property believed to be from a home invasion the night before.  A quarter of a mile from his destination, Killings struck Lakeisha White, who was crossing the street. He says he never saw her until she hit his windshield.

Killings’s car was photographed and impounded, and he consented to a blood test for alcohol which was taken a few hours later with negative results. 

The investigation revealed that Killings was on his cell phone at the time of the collision. Moreover, immediately after the crash he discarded at least one, maybe two, liquor bottles that were in his car. He’s been charged with lying about the liquor bottles and throwing them away but this jury will hear nothing about them. The judge severed those counts for a later trial.

On Wednesday, jurors are expected to hear from witnesses at the scene and maybe from more police officers. Killings faces up to four years if convicted.

– Beth Karas, In Session Correspondent

 Murfreesboro, TN - Ron Killings, a detective sergeant with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, had an unblemished record in his 12 years with the department–at least he did until July 17, 2008. That evening, at about 8:43 p.m., he was speeding in an unmarked patrol car when he struck and killed a child, 11-year-old Lakeisha White, as she crossed a road called Bradyville Pike in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Killings is charged with reckless homicide, based on his speed at the time of the crash. The issue at this trial is whether the fatal collision was a tragic accident or a crime. Watch live coverage of TN v. Killings this week on In Session.

– Beth Karas, In Session Correspondent

Some of the most troubling cases in the court system are those involving mistakes that end the lives of children. Sometimes these cases do not involve obvious malicious intent or wrongful behavior. Rather, the actions of one person may unintentionally end the life of someone defenseless, like a child. These tragic accidents can impact the lives of family members and their community for generations.

In Florida v. Long we have, by many accounts, a father who was usually a good parent, but not a perfect parent. Who among us is? He took actions – including leaving his daughter in a sweltering hot car for over 6 hours – that he will regret for the rest of his life. He lost his beloved “Ne Ne” because of what he did or, as was asserted, what others in his family didn’t do.

For most of us, the notion that a child’s safety is paramount is a self-evident truth. Nevertheless, it’s a case like this that can provoke those of us who are parents to ask self-evaluating questions like, “Remember the time we lost our child in the mall? Could something like this have happened to us?”

That’s where things become murky. Most of us would not rely on others to make sure our children are safe. According to Omar’s father, Omar was the kind of dad who constantly followed up to make sure the kids were picked up on time. So what happened on the day Arianna was supposedly left in his care? In making its decision, the jury likely considered the drinking and partying that Omar did the night prior to Arianna’s death, and rightly so. After all, he was violating his probation by even drinking on that night. Sure, we all like to leave behind our responsibilities and have fun every once in a while; but for parents, it’s necessary to make plans to attend to the health and safety of their children before doing so.

When I spoke to Omar Long today, he expressed sincere regret over what happened. I do not think he acted deliberately in this case. In fact, based on the resonant heartache in his voice, it’s clear to me he would give most or all of his possessions in exchange for the opportunity to relive that fateful day. Most of us cannot imagine doing in a specific sense what Omar did. Yet, in a general sense, he did what many otherwise good parents have done on infrequent occasions in the past – one evening, he put himself before his child. He will pay for that mistake for the rest of his life.

Omar Long may be good father in many respects. He supported his family dutifully, and there is no doubt in my mind that he loves his children, and loved his daughter, dearly. In the end, however, this case came down to culpable negligence for this lone series of horrible actions and inactions. Looking at the totality of this case, Omar’s actions the night before and the day of Arianna’s death, and the result of those actions, are his responsibility. It does not surprise me that a jury held him criminally liable for manslaughter – while my heart goes out to Omar, I would have done the same.

– Ryan Smith, In Session Anchor

It is always difficult for me to judge another parent.  As a father of three I know that there are times when you are caring for your children that you may mess up.  After all we are all human.  We all make mistakes.  So the question in this trial was: when does a mistake turn into a crime?

Omar Long never intended any harm for his daughter.  From what we can tell, for the most part, he was a loving responsible parent.  Past behavior, however, has nothing to do with Omar Long’s culpability on the night /morning in question.  I believe Omar Long’s conduct was not merely tragic – it was criminal.

For me, the line between tragedy and crime was crossed when Long decided to spend a night out partying.  He was on probation and was NOT supposed to be drinking.  He made the choice to violate his probation.  He made the choice to drink.  He knew his children relied upon him for financial and emotional support.  Despite all of this, Omar Long risked it all for an evening of fun with his friends.  Those actions, alone, tell me his state of mind and his state of priorities that night.

With that mindset, it is no surprise to me that Long left the engine of his car running and couldn’t remember the details that led up to the death of his daughter.  Little Arianna trusted her Dad, and he let her down.  She was not his top priority that night and that is the reason she died.

I am not concerned about the sentence for Omar Long.  He is already serving a life sentence of grief and guilt.  However, that life sentence does not and should not absolve him of his criminal responsibility for the death of Arianna.

-Vinnie Politan, In Session Anchor

St. Augustine, FL – Defendant Omar Long was convicted of the lesser-included offense of manslaughter in the death of his 23-month-old daughter Arianna. In a surprise phone call with In Session Monday, Long said he never saw Arianna in the car and didn’t know she was there. He believes that Arianna may have locked herself in the car because, according to Long, the car cannot be locked with the keys in the ignition despite a service technician's testimony otherwise. Long spoke with In Session's Ryan Smith from prison.

Long also mentioned that Arianna’s mother Nikki Anderson was not speaking to him that morning and gave no indication that the baby was in the car. Anderson defended Arianna’s father throughout the trial, even wearing a “Free Omar Long” shirt during his sentencing.

- Megan Haberling, In Session Production Assistant

St. Augustine, FL – Omar Long faces an aggravated manslaughter charge after leaving his 23-month-old daughter locked inside his car for nearly six hours on a scorching summer day. The prosecution called William Montgomery, the victim’s uncle, as its first witness.

Jurors heard the compelling 911 call made by a panicked Montgomery in which he described his lifeless niece. As the emergency call played out in court, Long sat rocking in his seat wiping away his tears. Stay tuned to In Session for more in-depth coverage of Florida v. Omar Long.

– Megan Haberling, In Session Production Assistant

St. Augustine, FL – On a sweltering Florida day, 23-month-old Arianna Long literally baked to death as she sat in her father’s car. Suffering from hyperthermia, her body temperature reached at least 109.8 degrees… that was as high as the thermometer went.

The extreme weather conditions played a huge part in the toddler’s death. In Session anchor Ryan Smith spoke to forensic meteorologist Howard Altschule to break down the temperature timeline of the day.

Stay tuned to In Session...as the best trial team on television brings you more in-depth coverage of FL v. Omar Long.

– Elizabeth Chmurak, In Session Associate Producer

St. Augustine, FL - A Florida toddler, locked inside a vehicle for hours on a hot summer day, literally bakes to death.  Her father is subsequently charged with aggravated manslaughter – and because of his record of previous felonies, he could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.  But is Omar Long criminally responsible for his daughter’s death, or was it simply a tragic accident?  That is the question at the heart of this trial.  On Wednesday In Session takes you inside the St. Augustine courtroom for coverage of Florida v. Omar Long.

– Michael Christian, In Session Field Producer

Robert Aragon is a free man.  A jury has decided Aragon is not guilty in the tragic Christmas day death of his daughter and the harm of his son. As the verdict of his acquittal was read Aragon showed no emotion but let out an obvious sigh of relief.

During ID v. Aragon on In Session various people in Aragon’s life took the stand and told emotional stories of a caring, loving father and dedicated employee- perhaps persuading the jury that the loss of a child was simply punishment enough.

–Kelly Bowman, In Session Associate Producer

Shoshone, ID - Stranded in snow on Christmas day, Robert Aragon let his children walk nine miles in frigid temperatures to seek out help from their mother. Ironically, Aragon’s truck was stuck at the top of a driveway belonging to Richard Barney… just steps away from assistance. In Session’s anchor, Vinnie Politan spoke with Richard Barney to recount the weather and rough terrain of that tragic day.

-Elizabeth Chmurak, In Session Associate Producer