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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 25, 2006 Jurich trial expected to close today By sarah lemon Mail Tribune Jurors are expected today to decide the fate of David Michael Jurich, on trial for the 2004 murder of a paroled sex offender. Jurich took the stand Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court and testified to an "extreme emotional disturbance" when he killed 68-year-old David Evan Rice on Oct. 29, 2004, in an Ashland motel room. An Oregon City clinical psychologist also vouched Monday for Jurich's disturbed state when the 26-year-old bludgeoned Rice to death after the older man sexually propositioned him. "He said, 'Come have sex with me,' " Jurich told the court. " 'Come 'F' me,' whatever." Jurich testified that because he had no identification, he gave Rice money to rent a room for him at the Relax Inn on Clover Lane. The two men met at the county's work center, were both homeless and occasionally panhandled together around Ashland. Although Jurich had the room key, Rice asked the manager to let him inside on the evening of Oct. 28. Jurich said Monday he was surprised to return after midnight and find Rice naked in his bed. Making himself a bed on the floor, Jurich though it was strange, he said, when Rice walked, nude, past him into the bathroom and urinated with the door open. When he returned, Rice, stood naked in front of him and made numerous sexual demands, Jurich testified. Advertisement "At that point, I got quiet, I got angry and I left," Jurich said. Outside the room, Jurich found a metal bar that he brought back inside and used as a club to beat Rice's head. He told the jury unhaltingly and without any show of emotion Monday that he remembered hitting Rice, although he didn't remember how many times. Forensic scientists estimated that Rice was struck between six and eight times on the right side of his head, hard enough to imbed skull fragments into his brain. Forensic study also showed Rice's bladder was full at the time of his death, though Jurich said the victim had just used the bathroom. On cross examination, prosecutor Tim Barnack suggested that Rice, more than 40 years older than Jurich, was no threat to his attacker, who weighed almost 260 pounds and had played college baseball. Jurich maintained that Rice — convicted of abusing young girls — was "a sexual threat." If the jury believes Jurich's testimony and the opinion of clinical psychologist Norvin Cooley, they are instructed to find Jurich guilty of first-degree manslaughter, which carries a mandatory 10-year prison sentence. If convicted of Rice's murder, Jurich is subject to 25 years in prison before he would be eligible for parole. A psychiatrist employed at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem will testify today for the prosecution, Barnack said. Attorneys then are expected to give closing arguments and hand the case to jurors, he said. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s