Both the prosecution and defense rested this morning in the federal murder trial of Rejon Taylor, the defense doing so without presenting any evidence or witnesses.

Mr. Taylor is standing trial on murder charges in connection with the death of an Atlanta restaurant owner. He faces the death penalty if convicted in what is the first death-penalty trial in the history of Eastern Tennessee’s federal courts district.

For its final witness, the prosecution called Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. Frank King, who testified that victim Guy Luck sustained four gunshot wounds to his body, including one to his mouth.

The prosecution has alleged that Mr. Taylor, Sir Jack Matthews and Joey Marshall kidnapped Mr. Luck and that Mr. Taylor shot him after driving him from Georgia to Tennessee. Prosecutors say the men did so to eliminate a witness in a burglary and identity theft case against them.

The jury saw pictures of Mr. Luck during his autopsy, including a close-up of his face.

“It would have caused him problems with bleeding, lots of blood in the mouth. He would have aspirated and swallowed this blood, making it difficult to breathe,” Dr. King said.

The prosecution also presented as evidence fragments of four teeth and two pieces of metal, which Mr. King testified he found in the stomach of Mr. Luck during the autopsy, suggesting Mr. Luck swallowed them after being shot.

After the prosecution finished its case, the defense argued that Mr. Taylor should be acquitted because the government had not provided sufficient evidence to prove its case.

On Wednesday, Mr. Matthews changed his story on the stand, saying he did not hear Mr. Taylor fire any shots at Mr. Luck, contrary to what he had told detectives and police in the past. He testified that he made up the story with Mr. Marshall to place the blame on Mr. Taylor.

This morning, attorney Leslie Cory said the government relied on testimony from Mr. Matthews to prove Mr. Taylor was guilty and that Mr. Matthews’ statements were not sufficient evidence because they did not mention anything about kidnapping or forethought with regard to murder.

“It was an act of panic,” Ms. Cory said of the shots being fired at Mr. Luck. “It was an act of fear.”

Judge Curtis Collier denied the motion and said the government had provided sufficient evidence in its case. Closing arguments are expected to begin Monday.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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