Opening statements started Tuesday within the rape trial for escaped inmate Antoine Massey.The primary witness referred to as was Diamond White, the girl on the heart of the case. White took the stand and instantly informed prosecutors she didn’t keep in mind a lot of the evening in query. She repeatedly acknowledged she has “by no means stated she was raped,” insisted she couldn’t recall key particulars, and informed jurors she had been excessive on a number of capsules, together with ecstasy and had not taken her prescribed mental-health treatment.Prosecutors opened by telling jurors this case is a few violent assault in November 2024. They pointed to accidents documented by deputies, doorbell digicam video from White’s house complicated, and body-camera footage from officers who interviewed her on the hospital. They stated the proof exhibits White was strangled, assaulted, and compelled into non-consensual intercourse by Massey.The protection countered by framing all the case as unreliable. They highlighted White’s historical past of false-swearing convictions, her admission that she hit Massey first as a result of she believed he was dishonest, and her statements that she was truly jumped by one other girl and an unknown man that evening not Massey. Protection attorneys emphasised that White recanted her unique assertion a number of occasions, informed the District Lawyer’s Workplace she didn’t need to press fees, and stated she was offended when she first reported him. They argued politics, publicity from the high-profile jail escape, and strain on prosecutors performed a task in bringing fees.White’s testimony grew to become probably the most dramatic second of the day. Whereas prosecutors performed hospital body-camera footage for the jury, video of White describing what occurred, attorneys observed she was texting on her cellphone on the witness stand. Courtroom stopped instantly.https://wdsu-edit.htvapps.web/en/content material/editDeputies confiscated her cellphone, and the choose reviewed the messages. The texts confirmed White had been messaging a victims’ rights advocate who was within the courtroom. White texted that she needed to go away the stand, and the advocate responded urging her to remain. The choose stated the jury didn’t see any of the texting, discovered no proof of witness tampering, and denied the protection’s request for a mistrial. He ordered either side to pay a $50 price as a result of telephones have been concerned within the incident. He has not but determined whether or not White will face contempt fees.Massey is charged with rape, kidnapping, home abuse battery, strangulation, and violating a protecting order. He has pleaded not responsible.In accordance with investigators, the November 2024 incident is separate from the Might 16 jail escape that made nationwide headlines. On the time of the escape, Massey was additionally awaiting trial on unrelated fees in Orleans Parish, together with home battery and car theft.White later grew to become a suspect within the escape investigation and is now charged with obstruction of justice and being a principal to aggravated escape. Investigators say she communicated with Massey, knew of his plans, and gave deceptive data to regulation enforcement through the six-week manhunt. The trial is scheduled to proceed Wednesday.