The morning testimony Thursday in the Claude Russell murder trial got underway with a lesson on bugs, specifically the maggots found on Chantel Humphries’ body in 2002. International Forensic Entomologist, Doctor Neal Haskell testified that the blowfly is a specific type of insect drawn to decaying flesh and the eggs and maggots, or larva, found on the victim’s body were significant in determining a window of death.



He adds that after fully maturing the maggots he was able to determine the species and when the eggs were laid.



Russell’s attorney, John Stewart questioned Haskell’s timeline because he was not granted access to the autopsy report.



He denied this saying the eggs and larvae would not have had time to ingest any cocaine in her body.



Commonwealth’s Attorney, GL Ovey, also called to the stand Humphries’ mother, Mary Jones, her husband, Joel Humphries and her son, Montrell Humphries.

Both testified that Humphries was a good person with a drug problem and that she did not have a temper, but did have access to a loaded gun if she had been in need of it.  Joel Humphries testified that he propped a chair against the door of their home on the night of the 24th to know when she came home because it was unlike her to disappear for all night.



The News Edge is on hand at the Trigg County Justice Center to bring you the latest information from the case. You can hear the trial proceedings on our stream at wkdzradio.com