Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Daryl Antonio was badly beaten before he died, his body covered in bruises and lacerations.
But the 22-year-old may have survived if not for the alcohol in his system.
"The alcohol in this situation is an important factor," Edward Leis, chief deputy medical examiner for Utah, testified Tuesday.
Leis was one of two witnesses who testified in a preliminary hearing for the man charged with murder in connection with Antonio's death — his half-brother Christopher Blackhorse.
Blackhorse, 35, was ordered to stand trial on one count of murder, a first-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony, by 3rd District Judge William Barrett.
The first witness, Unified Police detective Paul Nielson, painted a bloody picture of the scene at 5312 W. Lewisclark Drive. Police arrived after receiving a 911 call from Blackhorse, who said he found Antonio's lifeless body on the floor in the living room.
"There was a lot of blood in the carpet, a lot of blood on the walls. "It appeared a serious struggle went on in there," Nielson said.
According to Nielson, Blackhorse initially told officers that he heard his half-brother come home but could tell he was "upset and belligerent and drunk," prompting him to stay in his room.
Blackhorse then said Antonio's wounds were self-inflicted. After Nielson told him evidence detectives were collecting at the scene contradicted his story, Blackhorse said he punched Antonio.
According to Nielson, Blackhorse said he hit the man several times and then went to bed. He awoke to find Antonio unresponsive and called police. Nielson said Blackhorse asked him on their drive to the police station for questioning whether Antonio had "made it."
Later, when detectives found two sets of blood-soaked clothing with some knives in a garbage can, Blackhorse said he had placed the items there so police would find it.
Leis testified that he determined Antonio's death was a homicide, and the cause of death was blunt force trauma, sharp force injuries and acute intoxication. A toxicology report showed that Antonio's blood-alcohol level was 0.17. The legal limit in Utah is .08.
Leis detailed the injuries that covered the man's body, including bruises, lacerations, tennis shoe marks on his face and belt buckle-shaped injuries to his neck. He said they indicated what was most likely an extended beating.
"This isn't something that could have been done in one or two minutes," Leis said.
But there were no injuries that, on their own, would absolutely prove fatal if not for the aggravation of alcohol, he said.
Defense attorney Tawni Hanseen argued that the evidence did not support a murder charge and said there was nothing to suggest Blackhorse had knowingly and intentionally killed Antonio.
Hanseen further argued that the alcohol in Antonio's body contributed to the man's death in the same way his injuries had, placing responsibility partially on Antonio.
Prosecutor Tupakk Renteria countered that photos showed that Antonio had been beaten to a "bloody pulp" and that Blackhorse should have known that an intoxicated, and much smaller, Antonio wouldn't be able to defend himself as well in a fight.
"Yet (Blackhorse) continued to wail on Mr. Antonio," Renteria said.
Barret said he felt there was "sufficient probable cause" to support the murder charge and bound Blackhorse over for trial. The man has an arraignment scheduled for April 11.
E-mail:emorgan@ksl.com
