PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) — The trial continued Wednesday for the case against John Sieberling, Gaven King and Aaron Maree in the 2014 death of McKenzie Cochran.
The three former security guards at Northland Mall are charged with involuntary manslaughter in Cochran's death.
During Tuesday's testimony, the jury heard from several people inside the mall at the time, include Neihmiah Nelson who recorded part of the incident on cell phone video.
"I heard him saying I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe," Nelson testified. "They had one of the security had his knee in his back you know what I’m saying."
Hoy Monk says he was working at Northland's Foot Locker at the time. He described seeing security guards asking Cochran to leave a few times before pepper spraying him and struggling while trying to restrain him.
Monk testified guards spent several minutes restraining him, after which Cochran was unresponsive.
"I saw one of the security guards attempt to give Cochran some water in a styrofoam cup," Monk said. "They put the water to his mouth but the water just dribbles back down."
Earthena Kinney worked at a salon in the mall at the time. She testified she tried to intervene, reiterating Cochran's calls for help to security. However, she says she was told she was interfering.
"Everything was going so fast but they had him down there. It had to be at least 5 or 10 minutes," she testified.
Jurors also heard from the jewelry store owner who initially called mall security after he said Cochran and another man showed up to his store the day before behaving strangely and were back the day of the incident.
"I was sitting up at the front of the store. He was walking up, said he wanted to kill someone, and came right directly and started staring at me," he testified.
During their questioning, their attorneys worked to show that even mallgoers were seemingly not concerned about the security guards and that Cochran posed a threat to mall staff.
"I’m going to ask you, basically, you went to get your gun because you were afraid that he was going to harm you or rob you?"
"I wasn’t worried about the robbery part but I thought possibly he could harm me because the threat of someone, a big guy wearing a big large jacket, any kind of weapon could be hidden in that."
On Monday, a jury was seated after selection in the morning, then the prosecution and defense gave their opening statements, and a first witness was called to the stand.
"Sieberling, King and Maree are criminally responsible for his death, and evidence will show they ignored his pleas for help," said the prosecutor.
The defense pushed back, arguing security never meant to kill Mckenzie and never used excessive force.
"You’re not going to hear anything about chokeholds, kicking or blatant disregard. Officers thought they were providing security and safety for the mall," said the defense attorney.
VIDEOS: Hear opening statements from the prosecutor and defense attorneys below
WATCH BELOW: Security guards facing manslaughter charges in 2014 death of McKenzie Cochran
Back in 2014, cell phone video exposed by 7 News Detroit reporter Simon Shaykhet showed four former guards pepper spray and hold Cochran face down while he screamed “I can’t breathe” after refusing to leave.
Cochran later died from asphyxiation.
WATCH BELOW: Family of McKenzie Cochran responds to 10-month review following Derek Chauvin verdict
After prosecutors declined to file charges, years later, the case was re-opened at the request of family, and in 2021, Lucius Hamilton, John Sieberling, Gaven King and Aaron Maree were all charged with involuntary manslaughter.
According to a court filing, Hamilton pleaded guilty during a pre-trial hearing on Aug. 16 and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Haunting cell phone video showed him face down, handcuffed and begging for help. Security guards placed a knee in his back. He was already pepper sprayed, after refusing to leave the mall.
McKenzie‘s family says disturbing images and chilling admissions by security officers still haunt them every day, including one who admitted in civil court that they said, “Whatever you do, do not let him up. Don’t let him get up.” Another adding, "I found out later that night he was dead.”
