(Atlantic) Testimony continued on Wednesday morning for the State versus Anthony Asay, the Atlantic man on trial for Attempted Murder, 1st Degree Arson, and assault.
The State called Tiffany Wallace to the stand. Wallace resides at 109 Cedar Street, the home of Connie Nichols, who lives across the street from 106 Cedar Street, the location of the May 4 house fire. Nichols testified earlier that Dave Thomas, the alleged assault victim, had given her a gas can and mower. Nichols testified she noticed the can missing the following day.
During her testimony, Wallace stated she was sitting in Nichols’s kitchen smoking methamphetamine in the early morning of May 4 when Asay showed up at the house. Wallace told the court Asay sat down at the kitchen table and eventually asked Wallace for a razor blade.
Wallace says soon after that; Dave Thomas knocked on the front door. Wallace testified Asay didn’t want anyone to know he was in the house. Wallace says she put on a pair of shoes and walked with Thomas across the street to the home where Dave Thomas was living, or “squatting, as she put it. She says they searched for a candle because the house had no electricity and smoked a couple of cigarettes.
Soon after, Asay knocked on the padlocked front door, so he went around to the back of the house and let him in. Wallace says the three talked for a while. Thomas handed over some money owed to Asay. Soon after that, Wallace stated Asay attacked Thomas.
Wallace came back home and later returned to check on Thomas. Wallace says Asay had left, returned to the home, removed a cigarette from her mouth, and motioned for her to go.
Prosecuting Attorney Vanessa Strazdas asked the witness if she noticed if Asay was carrying anything.
Wallace arrived back at Nichol’s home, heard a loud noise, and witnessed the fire at 106 Cedar Street.
Wallace went to the front door and spotted flames coming from the back of the house.
Wallace says Thomas was still in the house at the time, and she helped pull him through a window. During the cross-examination, Defense Attorney Robert Engler Wallace stated the house was full of junk, and paint cans were stacked next to the back door.
Engler questioned Wallace on why she didn’t tell Police the truth following the fire on May 4.
The State rested its case this morning. The defense began their arguments at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Tiffany Wallace entire testimony is posted below:
