One witness, Teddy Simpson, took the witness stand Friday for the second and final day of Deykevious Russaw’s trial for manslaughter, larceny and evading responsibility related to a fatal hit and run crash on Ashley Street in 2017.
Simpson told the jury of four women and two men that he stole a Toyota Highlander from Walbridge Road in West Hartford and that Russaw was behind the wheel on July 18, 2017, when the car went out of control and ran over Rosella Shuler, 56, as she waited for a bus along Ashley Street, just east of Sigourney Street.
The crash was so violent it tore Shuler’s right leg from her body, inflicted massive injuries on her remaining leg and torso, and hurled her body 47 feet from the point of impact. She died 11 days later at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
Simpson was seated behind Russaw at the time of the crash, but a moment earlier had been driving. The pair switched places after a minor collision with a school bus a short distance away on Sigourney Street. Russaw hopped into the front seat, according to Simpson’s testimony and surveillance video shown in court, and sped off, hitting Shuler seconds later.
Simpson, dressed in dark green prison coveralls and with his hands cuffed, also testified that Russaw knew the Highlander was stolen.
Russaw, according to testimony on Thursday, admitted to police he was driving when the stolen Highlander struck Shuler. Surveillance video police found at several locations showed Russaw getting into the driver’s seat, the violent collision on Ashley Street and the six young men who were in the Highlander running off.
Simpson said he stole the car the night before the crash after driving another stolen vehicle to West Hartford. He was checking for open cars, found the Highlander and found the keys in the ignition, he testified. “I was just walking and checking cars,” he told the jury.
Shortly after noon, Simpson said he picked up Russaw, then four more young men. They drove from Russaw’s father’s apartment to the Williams Market on Signourney Street. When they got out of the car, a passing school bus caught the Highlander’s open door, damaging it. The teens yelled to the bus driver to move the bus, but he refused to do so until police arrived, Simpson testified.
“Bama jumped into the front seat, and that’s when the accident happened,” Simpson said, referring to Russaw by his nickname. “That’s when we drove off and the lady got hit.”
The only time Simpson seemed uncomfortable testifying was when prosecutor David Zagaja asked whether he saw Shuler lying next to the Highlander as he and the others ran off.
“I wasn’t paying attention,” he said, adding he was just trying to get away.
“Any comment about the person amongst you as you ran away?” Zagaja asked. No, Simpson replied.
Simpson agreed to testify against Russaw as part of a plea agreement his lawyer, Michael Dwyer, negotiated with Zagaja. Simpson faced murder and other charges and a possible life sentence for an unrelated shooting, but pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and possession of a firearm in a vehicle. He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 25 years under the terms of his plea agreement, and the sentencing judge will take into consideration his level of cooperation.
Under cross examination by defense attorney William O’Connor, Simpson acknowledged he was hoping for a 10-year sentence. O’Connor asked Simpson about the statement he gave against Russaw last summer, and the benefits he could receive at sentencing. He also asked about inconsistencies in the statement and the testimony he gave Friday.
In his statement last summer, Simpson said someone else stole the Highlander. He also did not tell police that Russaw knew it was stolen. Simpson said he lied to police in the statement.
The state rested its case Friday, and the defense opted not to present a case. Russaw did not take the witness stand. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, and jurors could be deliberating by early afternoon.
David Owens can be reached at dowens@courant.com.
