Nate Fujita Hangs Head, Cries As Expert Details Last Moments Of Astley's Life
WOBURN (CBS) - Nate Fujita hung his head and cried as the medical examiner took the stand and detailed the last moment's of Lauren Astley's life.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports
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Fujita has admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend but lawyers for the Wayland High graduate say their client was insane at the time.
Earlier in the day, Astley's best friend said Fujita was "rude" when she called him looking for Astley the night she was murdered. When Astley didn't return Ariel Chates' texts, she became concerned. She called their other friends. They hadn't heard from her either.
She called Astley's father. He hadn't heard from her.
Then she called Fujita, since he was Astley's ex-boyfriend.
"No, this is the last place she would ever be," he answered when she asked about Astley. "I said, 'Nate, I haven't seen you in a while. I was just wondering how you were doing,' and he said, 'I was actually in the middle of watching a movie and you interrupted me, so I have to go.'"
A year-and-a half later, prosecutors are about to close their case in his murder trial.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Henry Nields showed jurors photos of Astley's murdered body.
Fujita hung his head and cried as Nields gave an excruciatingly detailed account of her tortured last moments.
She was knocked in the head, choked with a bungee cord, cut countless times, and stabbed. When the prosecutor asked whether it took seconds or minutes, Nields answered, "in my opinion, it would have been a matter of minutes."
Fujita's mother left the courthouse sobbing.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic contributed to this report.
