Testimony in Kirkman trial halted after witness fails to appear

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Testimony in Vahtiece Kirkman's murder trial was halted Thursday after a witness did not show up.
 
Kirkman is accused of planning the 2006 murder of former Bahamian beauty queen Darice Knowles. Knowles was tied up and buried alive under cement, authorities said.
 
Kirkman was not happy with the trial stopping for the day and told the judge that he wasn't comfortable in custody.
 
Kirkman is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Willie Parker. A conviction in Knowles' death could put him on death row.
 
Prosecutors said he planned the murder and bought a shovel, duct tape and cement to accomplish it. Investigators believe Tony Rogers, who testified Thursday, was with Kirkman when he allegedly bought those items. 
 
Knowles' parents took the stand Thursday and said they gave DNA samples to be tested. A DNA expert told jurors that there was an extremely high probability that the remains found in 2010 belonged to Knowles.
 
Rogers said he couldn't remember when he was asked about the case, and another witness didn't show up. The judge ended testimony for the day, but Kirkman disagreed with the decision.
 
"If you give them an extension to tomorrow, sir, (you've) got the family, the victim's family, everybody ready. (You've) got these people holding everybody up. (Prosecutors have) had these witnesses for years. He had the case before my attorneys had the case, sir," Kirkman said.
 
Kirkman did not stay as attorneys went over jury instructions for the rest of the day, and he kicked a chair as he was escorted out of the courtroom.

Cox Media Group