In the third day of the Courtney Lockhart trial, the state discussed Lockhart's written and oral confession of the murder of Lauren Burk March 4, 2008.
The state also called forensic experts to the stand to confirm DNA evidence.
The Opelika-Auburn News reported that Detective Randy Armstrong of the Auburn police department drove to Phenix City March 7, 2008 to question Lockhart after his arrest.
Technical difficulties prevented the prosecution from presenting the video of Lockhart's testimony in the morning, so it was shown after the lunch break.
In the video, Lockhart repeatedly asked to see his daughter, Jaydah, who was 2 at the time.
The investigators asked Lockhart to tell them what happened March 4, 2008.
Lockhart said he worked in Auburn with Warr Grading.
After sleeping in his car the night before, Lockhart said he spent that day driving around Opelika and Auburn.
He parked in the parking lot behind the band practice field as it was getting dark and said he waited for "someone to come out--a college student who had a lot of money."
Lockhart said he saw Burk and confronted her as she got into her black Honda Civic.
"I told her to give me her money," Lockhart said. "She gave me her card, and she was screaming."
Lockhart said he told Burk to get in her car because he didn't want someone to hear her screaming.
They sat in the car for about 10 minutes before Lockhart began driving.
Lockhart said he told Burk about his problems and his life, and she told him she knew someone who could get him a job.
"I thought she was trying to help me, and I didn't want her to help me," Lockhart said.
Lockhart said he told Burk he didn't need a job and to stop talking to him.
"She kept asking me if I was gonna shoot her, and I said, 'No, I don't want to shoot you,'" Lockhart said.
When asked why he made Burk take her clothes off, Lockhart said he did it to make sure she didn't try to run.
"I wanted to let her know I was in control so she wouldn't jump out of the car and ask for help," Lockhart said.
The investigators repeatedly asked Lockhart if he thought about having sex with Burk, and he continually denied ever thinking about raping her.
Lockhart said the gun went off and Burk jumped out of the car.
Lockhart asked the investigators if Burk was dead.
After the gun went off and Burk jumped out of the vehicle, Lockhart said he was going to turn around, but a car behind him had already turned around.
"I didn't know what to do," Lockhart said.
Lockhart said he stopped at the Chevron at the intersection of Glenn Avenue and College Street and doused Burk's Civic with gasoline.
When Lockhart got back to the parking lot where he first picked Burk up, he said he set her car on fire with a lighter and a fast food bag and left immediately.
After the video confession, the state called several witnesses to testify about the DNA and ballistics testing performed on the evidence found in Lockhart's vehicle.
Kristen Maturi, a forensic scientist with the state department of forensic science, confirmed a match between Lockhart's confirmed DNA sample and the DNA found on the hammer of the gun found at the Publix on Summerville Road in Phenix City.
The DNA from small spots of blood on a T-shirt found in Lockhart's car matched the confirmed DNA sample from Burk.
Judge Jacob Walker called a recess at 5:25 p.m., and court will reconvene tomorrow at 9 a.m.
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