Closing arguments in boot camp death trial

Ammonia capsules in dispute
Each of the defendants testified that ammonia capsules were used to try to revive the boy. But Sinacore said they actually used the capsules to try to force Anderson to comply with their demands that he continue exercising.

“Physical force is applied in between and during the ammonia applications even though (Anderson) clearly wants you to stop,” he said. “Finally medical action is taken when Martin Lee Anderson is in a coma.”

Attorney Waylon Graham, who represents guard Charles Helms, accused the state of causing Anderson’s death by not disclosing that he tested positive for sickle cell trait when he was born in 1991 in routine screening.

Sinacore said sickle cell trait was not the direct cause of Anderson’s death, and noted that 3 million Americans have the trait and do not have physical limitations. Some are professional athletes, he said.

Sombathy said elite athletes who had collapsed from sickle cell trait had died as quickly as Anderson. It was not reasonable to expect the defendants to have foreseen Anderson’s condition, he said.

Jonathan Dingus, an attorney for guard Henry McFadden, talked to jurors about an obscenity Anderson used before he collapsed while running laps and another obscenity he used as he was struggling with the guards. Dingus said it was unreasonable for the guards to think Anderson was in need of medical attention.

“There was nothing to show that this was anything but a healthy, foul-mouthed, out-of-control young man who was malingering out on that field,” Dingus said.

Juror dismissed
The judge began Thursday’s session by announcing that one of the jurors had become ill and had been dismissed from jury panel.

Before court began, Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet agreed to allow Robert Anderson, the boy’s father, to remain in the courtroom. On Wednesday, Overstreet banned Anderson and others with him from the courtroom after he said there had been complaints about the group making noises during testimony.

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