Prosecution, defense rest in trial of man accused of 2018 killing of New Orleans couple

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) –– On the third day of Kenneth Augustine’s trial, both the prosecution and defense rested their case after submitting final evidence and testimony.

Kenneth Augustine is accused of second-degree murder for the 2018 shooting of Darnisha DeSilva and her fiancé, Gregory Heisser, III.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors called on 11 witnesses to testify, including Darnisha DeSilva’s daughter, G. DeSilva, who was three years old at the time of the murder. The now 9-year-old took the stand with a courthouse facility dog by her side. These dogs are sometimes used to help witnesses, especially young kids, through difficult testimony.

Attorneys asked her to remember the day her parents were killed. She recalled seeing a person walk into the home with a gun and her father on the floor of the living room.

On this day of the trial, Kenneth Augustine was wearing a purple button-down shirt, and this is how G. DeSilva identified the man, noting that he was the one in court wearing a purple shirt.

She struggled to recall specific details about the shooting or identify the shooter by name but said she was scared when the man wearing the purple shirt in court entered the house and was sad when he left.

Following G. DeSilva, other family members testified, providing their accounts of the aftermath of the murders. Her grandmother described her late daughter, Darnisha DeSilva, as caring and family-oriented. She recalled the moment she received the phone call about the fatal shooting.

Heisser’s mother, Lurline Labeaud Duncan, also took the stand. She shared memories of her son and portrayed him as a devoted father and protective sibling.

After presenting its 11th witness, the prosecution laid out its evidence for the jury, including a security video, autopsy reports and a jail call between Kenneth Augustine and his father. During the evidence review, a disturbance in the hallway prompted the judge to clear the courtroom temporarily.

Once everything settled, the defense called up their first and only witness, Kenisha Augustine, Kenneth Augustine’s twin sister. She described a chaotic scene upon arriving at their father’s house, repeatedly testifying that she had been maced and maintained that she did not hear gunshots or see any blood.

After her testimony, the defense then rested its case. Closing arguments are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.

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