A woman says she picked up a hitchhiker the night a Mississippi woman was fatally burned, but she’s unsure whether it’s the man prosecutors have on trial.
Sherry Flowers testified Wednesday in the capital murder retrial of Quinton Tellis, accused of killing Jessica Chambers near a small Mississippi town in 2014. A jury couldn’t reach a verdict in Tellis’ first trial last year.
Flowers isn’t identifying Tellis and agrees with a prosecutor that she didn’t know who she picked up. Still, prosecutors seek to connect the ride’s timing to Chambers’ death. Prosecutors have said Tellis left Chambers’ car before returning to set it and her on fire. The defense disputes the timing.
A medical examiner says Chambers’ death was a homicide from soot and smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
Sherry Flowers testifies on the second day of the retrial of Quinton Tellis on Wednesday morning
Lead prosecutor John Champion speaks during the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville on Wednesday
Quinton Tellis attends his retrial in Batesville, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death in December 2014. Tellis has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber /The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
Ben Chambers, father of Jessica Chambers, breaks down during testimony in the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Chambers to death in December 2014. Tellis has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber /The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
Lead prosecutor John Champion speaks to a colleague on the second day of the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Mississippi on Wednesday, Sept. 26. 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death almost three years ago on Dec. 6, 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
Lisa Daugherty, mother of Jessica Chambers, attends the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Chambers to death in December 2014. Tellis has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber /The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
CORRECTS JUDGE LAST NAME TO CHATHAM NOT CHATMAN – Judge Gerald Gerald Chatham, right, listens as lead prosecutor John Champion, center, questions witness Lt. Edward Dickson on the second day of the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Mississippi on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death almost three years ago on Dec. 6, 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
CORRECTS LAST NAME TO PALMER, NOT PALMERON – Defense attorneys Darla Palmer, left, and Alton Peterson, right, chats with Deputy Prosecutor Jay Hale, center, during the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death in December 2014. Tellis has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
CORRECTS TITLE TO SHERIFF’S DEPUTY NOT SHERIFF – Panola County Sheriff’s Deputy Chuck Tucker testifies on the second day of the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death almost three years ago on Dec. 6, 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
David Gammill testifies on the second day of the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Miss., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death almost three years ago on Dec. 6, 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
Lt. Edward Dickson testifies on the second day of the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Mississippi. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Jessica Chambers to death almost three years ago on Dec. 6, 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
Ben Chambers, father of Jessica Chambers, covers his ears during testimony in the retrial of Quinton Tellis in Batesville, Miss., on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. Tellis is charged with burning 19-year-old Chambers to death in December 2014. Tellis has pleaded not guilty to the murder. (Mark Weber /The Commercial Appeal via AP, Pool)
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