Jurors watch interrogation video in trial of Troy Parker, man accused of killing woman by setting her on fire
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – On Monday, testimonies wrapped up in the trial of Troy Parker, the man accused of killing Fantasia Stone last April by dousing her in a flammable liquid and setting her on fire.
The courtroom watched a police interrogation video of Troy Parker, a few weeks after the murder. Officers asked Parker about his whereabouts leading up to the time of the murder. In the video, Officers can also be seen asking Parker about a gauze on his hand.
Prosecutors said Parker had several stories that weren’t adding up.
One of which, was the hand injury. Parker said he burned his hand on a grill while barbecuing and hurt the same hand in a bike accident. The story changed, when investigators asked Parker why he was caught on camera going inside Stone’s apartment the night of her murder.
Parker also said he was in Florida for a wedding at the time of the murder. But, the story changed when prosecutors said they caught him on airport cameras on dates that prove he was in Rochester the night of the murder, not Florida.
Gallagher said Parker was also caught on camera, buying lighter fluid, and placing the bag outside of Stone’s apartment. In security stills, attorneys pointed out that Parker had circled himself, and initialed.
Investigator Jason Leckinger testified that Parker said he was in apartment 2 in Stone’s house, in a bedroom.
Prosecutors say Parker had a relationship with Stone, and believe there could’ve been some argument over money and drugs, along with relationship issues.
Investigator: You saw someone on fire there? Was her body burning when you walked out? Troy you don’t have to think about that.
Investigator: Troy, you were friends with Fantasia…you were there.
Parker: I wasn’t there. I was in the room.
Investigator: You couldn’t have been that isolated, if someone is on fire, you’re going to hear them?
Parker: I heard commotion. I was like, damn, Fantasia WTF, and I just got out of there.
In the video, investigators question Parker about why he didn’t call 911 that night.
The defense team declined to go on camera, but argues someone else set her on fire that night; someone who is actually one of the prosecution’s witness.
As for motive?
“There have been multiple potential motives testified too in this case, specifically over money and drugs, along with the fact that the defendant was in a relationship with Stone, he had another relationship as well, and was upset about the fact that Fantasia made the relationship known to his other girlfriend,” said Gallagher.
Several people testified for the prosecution last week including Parker’s ex-girlfriend Tanesha Holley, who told the jury she saw Parker the night that Stone was killed. The prosecution is expected to wrap it’s case this week.
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