CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. – The murder trial continues in the case of Shawn Pike, accused of stabbing Nicole Gates, 27, a Citgo gas station clerk, 87 times.
Wednesday morning in during the second day of trial, some members of the jury cried as the prosecution called a witness to the stand. Alyssa Evans relayed the chilling comments Pike told her in their getaway car, stolen from the victim.
“(Pike) said that if she never would have went for the button that she would have never died,” said Evans.
Evans referred to the 911 call button inside the gas station. The night of the robbery and killing, Evans’ car was also used to transport the stolen beer and cigarettes.
Pike admitted to police that when Gates went to call 911, he stabbed her to death until his weapon broke. The defense filed two motions Wednesday: to suppress that 911 tape, and to limit the number of graphic autopsy pictures shown in court.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Joyce DeJong, DO, said Gates had about 40 stab wounds in the back of her head and neck. DeJong said the wounds were so deep that they damaged Gates’ spinal cord.
“Some of (the wounds) penetrated quite deeply,” said DeJong. “In fact in this area, with these 40 injuries clustered here, about 40. There was damage to the spinal cord. It went all the way through, right between the vertebrae, and damaged the spinal cord.”
Pike has a criminal past, and could spend the rest of his life in prison if he is convicted.
The trial continues Thursday, in Calhoun County Circuit Court.
