Man told police friend's death was an accident

1/31/2008

Charles Foulkes cried as he admitted to Toledo police detectives hours after the death of his friend, Krystal Gould, that "it was an accident."

A videotape of Foulkes was shown to jurors yesterday during the second day of his trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Foulkes, 29, of 3388 Otto St., is charged with reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter for the July 25 death of Ms. Gould.

Ms. Gould, 30, of 101 Warrington Rd., died of severe head injuries she received after flying off the hood of a moving car in the parking lot of Zinger's Food & Spirits on Matzinger Road in North Toledo.

During hours of testimony by several witnesses Tuesday, jurors heard that Foulkes was behind the wheel of the car

Yesterday, the 11 women and three men of the jury heard from Foulkes himself about what happened about 3:30 that morning.

"It was an accident," an obviously distraught Foulkes told detectives during the interview. "I said, 'Krystal, get up, get up.'"

The interview was one of two shown to jurors - one soon after the incident, the second many hours later.

During the first interview with detectives, Foulkes said he didn't know what happened to Ms. Gould. He only said that they were friends and that he was one of many who found her in the parking lot in a pool of blood.

The initial interviews led police to believe that Ms. Gould had been the victim of a hit and run.

However, Dr. Diane Barnett, a county deputy coroner, testified yesterday that the absence of injuries to Ms. Gould's lower body meant that she was not hit by a car.

Other witnesses testified Tuesday that they, too, originally lied to police about what occurred because they were scared.

Detective Jay Gast, the lead investigator on the case, testified yesterday that one of the witnesses approached police several hours after the initial interview to change her story.

The investigation then focused on Foulkes, Detective Gast said yesterday.

Foulkes could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison if convicted on both charges.

The trial is to continue today with Judge Linda Jennings presiding.