BECKLEY, W.Va. – The Natalie Cochran Trial is on to day 3, and WVVA is once again in the courtroom to bring you the latest updates.
On day 1, Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman says he has a lot of circumstantial evidence that will show the jury that Natalie Cochran did in fact poison and kill her husband. Truman says he’ll outline how Michael Cochran went from a healthy 38 year old man to dead in a matter of days. Truman went on to say his theory is that Natalie Cochran killed her husband after he found out about her Ponzi scheme.
Natalie Cochran’s attorney, Matthew Victor, called the state’s theory nonsense, and stated he’ll be showing the jury that Michael Cochran was not a healthy man at all.
To start day 2, Stephanie Hamilton, a family friend of Natalie and Michael Cochran, took the stand. Stephanie’s husband, John Hamilton took the stand on Wednesday afternoon. Stephanie Hamilton recalled going over to the Cochran household and seeing Michael Cochran lying on a couch inside the home unconscious. She remembers taking his temperature but says Michael Cochran never reacted to her presence.
She testified that she insisted to Natalie that Michael needed to go to a hospital but Natalie didn’t want him to go to any of the area hospitals.
To start Day 3, Jason Bowen, a general contractor who worked full time for the Cochran’s in 2019 testified. Bowen described himself as being friends with Michael Cochran, and said that before February 6 Michael Cochran told Bowen that “he felt like he had been poisoned.”
Then FBI Chemist Joseph Stephens took the stand. Stephens analyzed three vials of chemicals, once of which was identified as insulin.
As of 10:40 a.m., Stephens was being cross-examined.
You can watch the trial live on Court TV.
You can read previous stories about Cochran and the trial below:
Natalie Cochran’s case continued until December
Natalie Cochran trial set to begin in January
Natalie Cochran re-indicted for murder of husband
Natalie Cochran pleads “not guilty” to murder of husband
Jury selection for Natalie Cochran trial begins
You can also read the day 2 recap here.
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