Machete murder trial: Suspect’s ex-girlfriend, stabbing survivor testify in court
TAMPA, Fla. - The fate of an accused machete-wielding murderer could be in the hands of a jury as early as Friday.
On Thursday, the jury in the murder trial of Jason Hartness was shown home surveillance video of a woman running away in fear through a neighbor's front lawn.
Prosecutors say she had just witnessed the murder of a man by a machete-wielding killer. It was Joseph Foley‘s front yard. He testified he was outside and watched as the woman ran away and yelled out something chilling.
"She looks scared. She said somebody was over there stabbing people," recalled Foley.
The jury was shown home surveillance video of a woman running through a yard after she says she saw the machete attack.
Prosecutors say that somebody is Jason Hartness. They say in April 2021 he was hanging out at a home on 2nd Ave. SE, in Ruskin.
According to prosecutors, Hartness was high on meth and went into a bedroom where the victim, Daniel Sanchez, was lying in bed.
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Suddenly, without saying a word, they say Hartness stabbed him with a machete.
Machete prosecutors say was used in deadly attack.
According to prosecutors blood was everywhere. It was on the bed, the bedroom walls, and some even made it on Philip Carver, who was also attacked. He was stabbed in the back of the head and had cuts all over his body.
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But the defense reminded the jury that Carver lied to police about his drug use, witnessing the murder, and other things. However, Carver pushed back, "I remember a man cutting me up and watching a man die. Blood going everywhere. Blood going down my face and you’re hounding me over a lighter?"
Later, Sheila Miller, who was dating Hartness at the time of the murder, took the stand.
Shelia Miller was dating Hatness at the time of the fatal attack.
At first, she lied to police and said she wasn’t there, but later changed her story and said she witnessed the stabbing. Miller, who admitted to a drug habit, says Hartness told her the victim attacked him first with a syringe, but said she didn’t see that incident.
Later, prosecutors played a jailhouse call between the two, where Hartness was angry his lawyer was not moving fast enough in preparing a ‘stand-your-ground’ defense.
"I gave him a full, detailed description of what happened, and he hasn’t done anything with it," said a frustrated Hartness.
Hartness is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder.
The jury could begin deliberating tomorrow.