The testimony began Wednesday in the attempted murder trial of James Hataway.
He’s accused of trying to break a woman’s neck and he’s also a suspect in disappearances of Tracy Ocasio and Chris George.
Jurors heard the testimony from Hataway's alleged victim, Rachel Clarke. The Casselberry woman claims Hataway tried to strangle her and slammed her head on the ground at least four times during the attack in 2008.
"I was in fear for my life. I thought he was going to kill me," said Clarke during the trial Wednesday. “I was telling him to stop, it hurts. You’re hurting me. Please let go and I was able to slip out."
A cellmate of Hataway’s is also expected to testify, but his face will be hidden in court. Thomas Malloy is in the federal witness protection program.
He said Hataway was infatuated with breaking necks.
“He kind of like fish hooked my mouth and was trying to snap my neck again,” said Clarke. And during the attack, Clarke said Hataway told her, “don’t make me kill you”
The jury was finally seated after a long day of jury selection on Tuesday. The jury includes three men, three women and three alternates of the original 100 in the jury pool. It took some time to select the group because of all the pretrial publicity surrounding Hataway.
Media reports tied him to the disappearances of Chris George and Tracy Ocasio in addition to the attempted murder charges of Clarke.
The mothers of both George and Ocasio believed the jury selection process was thorough and fair.
“I’ve been pleased with both parties, the defense and the prosecution as to how they’re handling it,” George’s mother, Rachel George said.
“They’re trying to find the best possible jurors that they can find and I want them to find the best jurors who will actually devote themselves to this case,” said Ocasio’s mother, Liz Ocasio. “That way when they find him guilty there will be no way that they can dispute the fact.”
Both Liz Ocasio and Rachel George are following the trail and were in the courtroom Wednesday.
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