Day 3: Trial continues for doctor accused of manslaughter

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Testimony from day three in the manslaughter trial of doctor Ameer Hassan sparked high emotions in the courtroom.

In testimony that could prove devastating to the prosecutions case – Harlingen police investigator Roberto Silva took the stand.

Silva is with the department's highway enforcement and took over the crash scene when he arrived.

The defense has argued from the start that Harlingen police did not handle the investigation properly.

Defense attorney Dan Sanchez wasted no time attacking how Silva performed his duties.

Silva testified that while he was at the scene - he didn’t remember speaking with Hassan and didn’t speak to any other witnesses.

Silva and his team didn’t map out the scene of the collision until 4 a.m. the next day after learning that San Juana Sanchez died.

One of the key questions in the case has been whether or not Sanchez was in the crosswalk.

Witnesses in the case have watched video of the crash and all agree Sanchez didn’t start out in the crosswalk, but ended up on the line.

Harlingen investigators didn’t map out the direction Sanchez took until Tuesday.

Silva was asked about telling a witness that brake marks or tire tracks were found at the scene.

Video of the witness interview was played for the jury where Silva is heard saying they were present.

“All you did by being in there was tamper with the investigation, didn’t you,” Sanchez said. “And you want this jury to rely on your investigation to convict my client?”

Silva agreed with defense lawyers he was learning on the job and wasn’t fully trained in crash investigations.