The trial for a 37-year-old inmate accused of attempted second degree murder is getting underway in Reno County District Court.
Dajuan Wilkerson is charged for an attack on William Kendall, a former sergeant at the prison. This occurring back on July 6, 2010. Kendall suffered severe injuries when Wilkerson beat him with his hands and feet. The officer had to retire from his position because of those injuries. That included a busted jaw, broken nose and bumps on his head and shoulder. One of the bumps to the head was behind his ear and has effected his hearing.
He testified that he doesn’t have any memory of the incident, in fact can’t remember anything two weeks prior to the incident. He can remember some things after waking up in the hospital with someone helping him to walk, but nothing about the incident.
Kendall also testified that he suffers from short-term memory loss and described himself as being 90% back to normal.
Also on the stand was another former corrections officer, Scott Waters. He says he was in the restroom when the incident occurred and could hear Kendall saying that was disrespectful to Wilkerson. He says he was the only one still out of his cell in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Cell House B-2.
He says he came out and found Kendall on the ground and immediately called a signal 31, which is officer down at the prison. He says he worked to help Kendall who was laying just outside the prison run.
There was a brief pause in testimony when one female juror became to hot in the courtroom and left into he jury room to cool off.
The trial is expected to continue on Wednesday.
Wilkerson is currently serving time for murder in the first degree and attempted murder in the first degree for crimes in Sedgwick County going back to September 13, 2001.