By Kerry Craig
At the end of the third full day of testimony only three witnesses remain to be heard in the first-degree murder trial of Aaron Tyler Crum in Hopkins County’s 8th District Court and defense attorney Martin Braddy said late Thursday that the 26-year-old Crum will take the stand.
District Attorney Will Ramsay rested his case Thursday morning after presenting and two full days of testimony from witnesses and presenting as much as 200 pieces of evidence related to the shooting death of Joshua Paul Cowling in the early morning hours of February 24 of this year.
Defense attorney Braddy called several people who attended the after-hours party at Crum’s home including Sulphur Springs Police Detective Lieutenant Rusty Stillwagoner and Detective Sergeant Brian Shurtleff who were called to the Pampa Street residence.
Braddy also called Eriin McCrary, long-time girlfriend of Joshua Cowling, and Brenton McQueen, a private investigator employed to assist in defending Crum.
Along with the defendant Braddy said he would call Tom Bevel, a nationally recognized blood spatter expert to the witness stand Friday morning.
District Judge Northcutt told the jury late Thursday afternoon that testimony would resume at 10:30 a.m. Friday morning.
The 26-year-old Aaron Crum, if convicted on the first-degree murder charge, could face a sentence of from five to 99 years or life in prison. Crum has remained in Hopkins County Jail since February 24 in lieu of $250,000 bond. 
