COLUMBUS, Ohio — The murder trial for former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Jason Meade is back for its eighth day as a new witness was added and subpoenas were issued last week.
Meade is on trial for the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. in December 2020. He pleaded not guilty in December 2021 to murder and reckless homicide charges.
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Meade told jurors in his testimony last Tuesday that Goodson waved a gun and aimed it at him as they drove by one another. Meade testified that he then pursued Goodson in his unmarked vehicle to Goodson's grandmother's home where the man turned to face him with a gun in his hand.
Meade shot Goodson six times with an assault-style rifle, including five times in his back.
According to his family and prosecutors, Goodson was holding a sandwich bag in one hand and his keys in the other when he was fatally shot as he tried to enter the side door of his grandmother’s house.
Additional subpoenas show attorneys want to know about any communication between Goodson's mom, Tamala Payne, Goodson family attorney, Sean Walton and a man named Christopher Corne.
You can view the entire Jason Meade murder trial on 10TV+ , on 10TV's YouTube channel and in this story. The 10TV+ app is free to download on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
LATEST UPDATES FROM COURT:
Feb. 12 — Defense rests, state calls rebuttal witness
The defense did not call any additional witnesses to the stand Tuesday as the Jason Meade trial resumed this week after a short delay. Attorneys for Meade were expected to call a use of force expert to testify but instead rested their case.
The judge allowed the state to call a rebuttal witness to testify in court on Tuesday morning. Christopher Corne, who is employed by an HVAC company, said he was working in the area the day of the shooting.
Prior to Corne's testimony, the judge told the jury that a separation of witness order was issued for this case. The judge explained the purpose of the order is to not allow witnesses to hear the evidence and testimony of others.
Corne was not on the prosecution's original witness list and the judge told the jury that he came forward after watching portions of the testimony from local media coverage and live video of the trial. The judge told the jury Corne posted several statements about the case on social media and then also later deleted his Facebook account.
"You may consider these factors when trying to determine the witness's credibility," the judge said. He then reminded the jury, it is their duty to decide what testimony to believe and what testimony not to believe.
Last week, additional subpoenas issued showed attorneys wanted to know about any communication between Goodson's mom, Tamala Payne, Goodson family attorney, Sean Walton and Christopher Corne.
Corne delivered his deposition testimony on Monday, along with Payne and Walton. Read a recap of Corne's testimony here.
After a short break, prosecutors called Seth Stoughton, a law professor in South Carolina and faculty director of the Excellence in Policing and Public Safety program, to the stand. Stoughton was previously a police officer in Tallahassee for just under five years full-time.
The judge provided instructions to the jury before concluding for the day. Closing arguments are set for Wednesday.
Shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr.
On Dec. 4, 2020, Meade was wrapping up an unsuccessful search for a fugitive with the U.S. Marshals Office Fugitive Task Force when he fatally shot Goodson, who was not the subject of the search.
Court records show Meade confronted Goodson outside of his vehicle in front of his grandmother's home in the 3900 block of Estates Place.
Meade's attorneys argue Goodson waved a gun at the deputies, then Meade told Goodson to drop the weapon. Defense attorney Mark Collins has said in previous interviews that Goodson did not listen to those commands. Meade then fatally shot Goodson.
Relatives say Goodson was carrying a bag of sandwiches while opening the door to his grandmother’s house at the time he was shot.
At the time, the sheriff's office did not have body worn cameras. There is no video of the shooting.
Goodson's mother said he had a concealed carry permit and legally had a gun.
An autopsy report showed Goodson was shot five times in the back and once in the buttocks.
Goodson's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Meade, but that is put on hold until the trial is completed. They are expected to be present in court every day of the trial.
Who was Casey Goodson Jr.?
Goodson’s mother Tamala Payne said he was the best older brother to his nine brothers and sisters and his joy was infectious and filled the room.
“The kid had a whole life ahead of him, he had plans, he had dreams, he wanted to be a CCW instructor, he had his CDL license, he was working and saving, trying to save enough money to purchase his own truck,” Payne said.
In an interview back in December 2022, Bredlin Harper who is Goodson's brother, said he sacrificed everything for him.
“He wasn't just our brother, he wanted to be our dad! He fought for us when he was here, and now we have to fight for him."
In 2020, 10TV spoke with Malissa Thomas-St. Clair, who is the founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children and was also Goodson's former sixth-grade math teacher.
“Casey as a sixth-grader was the most compassionate, loving, selfless student. He was helpful, he always wanted to do, he loved to be able to just put a smile on your face. He was light-hearted and funny,” St. Clair said.
Who is Jason Meade?
Meade, who has been out on bond, was a deputy with the sheriff's office for 17 years. He was placed on administrative leave after the shooting, and took disability retirement in July 2021, months before he was indicted.
Meade was also a deputized member of the US Marshals office, but a judge ruled he was not acting as a federal agent at the time of the shooting.
According to Meade's personnel file from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, he was one of seven deputies involved in a deadly shooting in Pike County in 2018. All deputies were cleared in that shooting.
In March 2019, he was given an oral reprimand for using his taser and not telling his supervisor.
He was also one of the deputies who climbed on the rooftop to arrest Monica Justice in July 2020. She was sentenced to 40-to-45 years in prison for a shooting that injured two Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies.
