Grand Haven — People sitting on the prosecutor’s side of the courtroom wept Wednesday as a former inmate acquainted with Troy Brake, who is charged with killing an MSU student and three others, recounted how Brake said he beat MSU student Katherine A. Brown because shooting her would have been “too good” for her.
The credibility of this information was challenged by Brake’s attorney, Paul McDonagh.
Brake is on trial in Ottawa County’s 20th Circuit Court in connection with the slayings of Brown, 18; her boyfriend Jeremy Zimmer, 20; his mother Sharmaine Zimmer, 53; and his brother Tyler Zimmer, 17. All were found dead in the Zimmer home Sept. 29, 2008. Brake was charged with four counts of open murder and three felony firearm charges.
Fradel Pugh, a former inmate at the Kent County Jail with Brake, said during his testimony that Brake told him he had killed the Zimmers and Brown because he thought she was a “hottie” and he “had to have” her. To get closer to Brown, Pugh said, Brake said he had to “get rid” of the Zimmers.
“I just kept asking him, ‘Why?’” Pugh said, reaching for a tissue. “He said because shooting her would’ve been too good.”
Brake had a strong dislike for women because they had let him down in the past, Pugh said.
McDonagh challenged Pugh’s motives for giving the information to police, a move Pugh said he made because it was the right thing to do.
Pugh said he received no benefit for contacting authorities. McDonagh told the courtroom Pugh was released from jail four days after talking to authorities, but Pugh said it had nothing to do with the information he gave to police.
Arguments from the prosecution were expected to conclude Wednesday. The prosecution’s closing arguments were expected to come after the lunch break.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s edition of The State News and check statenews.com for updates.
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