Local News

Witnesses Take The Stand In Bus Beating Trial

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― The attack sparked outrage. A woman was badly beaten by a group of teenagers.  On Monday the defense rested its case.

Mike Hellgren reports closing arguments will be heard Tuesday in the trial that has lasted for weeks.

The accused teens made their first comments in court Monday telling the judge they did not want to testify.  But several passengers did take the stand in their defense.

The defense called two key witnesses. Both were passengers on the No. 27 bus in Hampden when a near riot broke out last December.

Five teens are accused of beating Sarah Kreager in that brawl.  Both witnesses testified that Kreager instigated the attack against her, a claim Kreager has strongly denied.

"I believe it matters how it started because the ultimate responsibility for the incident rests with the person that put it in motion," said defense attorney Garland Sanderson.

One of the teen's classmates told the judge her version of what happened. She said Kreager was already injured before the attack.

"The lady had a black eye. Everybody was laughing at her, and she got mad," said the teen.

Another passenger testified that after a scuffle with a teen, Kreager left the bus. "She was fussing back at the kids on the bus. She was arguing and acted like she wanted to fight," said the man.

Kreager has testified she did not provoke the attack.

"It goes exactly opposite of what their theory of the case is. Had they investigated the case properly, they would've known this before they decided to charge the kids for whom they have no evidence against," said defense attorney Donald Wright.

"One would only have to look at the photos of her injuries to believe that there was a very horrible crime committed against this young woman," said Margaret Burns from the State's Attorney's Office.

Prosecution tried to crack away at the credibility of the defense witnesses, noting the teen passenger attends the same school as the accused and knows them. 

That witness did testify that all of the accused were on the bus when the attack began. She even drew a seating chart.

The judge has a vacation scheduled, so the verdict could be issued before or after that vacation.

Trials for several more of the accused teens have been delayed, and another of the accused plead the equivalent of guilty in juvenile court.

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