BREAKING: The jury found Daniel Riley guilty on four of the five counts he's charged with, which are second degree assault, armed criminal action, fourth degree assault, and driving without a valid license. The first two counts are felonies. He was found not guilty on a misdemeanor assault charge.
The jury recommended 18 years, nine months total for all charges. Sentencing is April 18th.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore will hold a press conference at 10:00 Friday morning to talk about the case.
Our earlier story:
Janae Edmondson, the Tennessee high school volleyball player who lost both her legs last year due to a reckless driving incident, took the stand in the third day of the trial of Daniel Riley, who is facing five charges including assault, armed criminal action, and driving without a valid driver's license.
Edmondson, who was expected to speak at some point in the trial, wheeled herself in from a back room in a wheelchair with her two legs exposed and facing the damage that was done to her.
The courtroom fell silent when Edmondson was announced as the witness. Emotions overwhelmed jurors and the family of Riley.
Edmondson recounted the crash that cost her legs, visibly showing difficulty of holding her emotions when recounting the traumatic day.
"I was screaming because I knew something was wrong but didn't know what," Edmondson said during her testimony, "I tried to stand up, but my mom and my dad told me 'just stay still.'"
During her testimony, Edmondson also discussed the rehab she went through, including being describing how her new skin would rip off easily after removing stitches.
"I had a new skin that would heal over it, but every time I took it off, it would take the new skin off," said Edmondson. "So it was a constant open wound and it hurt a lot, especially on the top of my legs."
"It was awful," Edmondson described. "I had stabbing pain all throughout my legs. I was numb a majority of the time I was in the hospital and even coming out and even now. My legs are still numb in places."
Edmondson also described the pain she felt, especially the phantom pain, recounting how her dog, who would lie with her, would trigger the phantom pain of her legs feeling a sensation as if her dog was brushing up against her legs, which were no longer there.
During her appearance, prosecutors went through photos of Edmondson going through physical therapy process and cleaning her wounds.
Riley did not look at the projector that was showing the photos in the Carnahan Courthouse.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors have been making the case that Riley had been recklessly driving and that was what caused the incident that led to Edmondson losing her legs.
Meanwhile his defense is expected to make the case that Riley was the one who caused the accident, but rather that a woman who hit him was the one.
The woman, Elizabeth Smith, testified on day one of the trial alongside Edmondson's father James, denies that she hit Riley, but rather he hit her.
Additionally on day two of the trial, data from Riley's Audi airbag control module revealed Riley accelerated from 5mph to 45mph in the five seconds leading up to the initial collision and the car eclipsed 6,000 rpm, with the brake not being applied at the time of impact.
Meanwhile, the other vehicle Riley collided with was decelerating from 29mph to 27mph and applied the brake two seconds prior to impact. It was also determined the other vehicle, struck the rear of the Audi driven by Riley, causing it to rotate into Edmondson.
Alongside the data, A toxicologist with the Missouri Highway Patrol crime lab testified on day two that Riley was on drugs, including testing positive for Fentanyl, codeine and THC in his blood, while officers that saw Riley described his mood as 'nonchalant' and he was more focused on himself rather than Edmondson.
Closing statements were made Thursday afternoon after a brief lunch break following Edmondson's testimony. Riley waived his right to testify before closing statements were made.
The jury is currently now deliberating.
This story will be updated as soon as more information is available.
