State rests case in day 4 of doctor's manslaughter trial

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — We continue following the latest in the manslaughter trial of doctor Ameer Hassan.

Last April, Hassan hit San Juana Sanchez with his truck. She later died as a result of injuries sustained.

On Thursday, the state rested its case after a second Harlingen police officer took the stand.

Meanwhile, the defense says police jumped the gun in arresting Hassan after officers admitted evidence was still being gathered this week.

Defense attorneys have attacked police investigation of the crash. Investigator Eric Estrada testified he was placed in charge of the investigation claiming he measured and mapped out the scene of the crash the morning after it happened.

Harlingen police didn't measure Hassan's speed until this week, after the trial started.

Estrada added he relied only on video of the crash that was obtained from a security camera of a nearby business.

Police did not know this video existed until three months after the crash and two months after Hassan was arrested.

Estrada said he was not able to compare the video to anything because police didn't take a single photo while at the crash or when they measured and mapped the area.

He testified police impounded Hassan's truck two days after the incident and kept it for seven months without taking any pictures or measurements of the vehicle.

When asked if he was too busy to document the truck, Estrada replied, yes, he had a big caseload.

It was then the state rested.

The defense then argued for a dismissal of the case which the judge denied. The trial continues Friday morning.