A neighbor of an Anchorage couple murdered in May 2013 said in court Tuesday she saw a young Alaska Native man run through her yard, then jump headfirst through a nearby apartment window on the afternoon of the murders.
The apartment belonged to 73-year-old Touch Chea and 71-year-old Sorn Sreap, who state prosecutors argue were killed by Jerry Active. The couple shared the apartment with a grandson and his wife, Von and Minesoreta Seng, and the younger couple's children.
Glennys Kidd, the neighbor who lived in a building behind the family's apartment, said she did not call police after the man jumped through the window. She testified that she was in her backyard barbecuing when it happened.
Kidd decided to take her children to the park instead, she said.
"I guess I was selfish," Kidd said. "I just wanted to take my kids away, so that's what I did."
Assistant district attorney Gustaf Olson asked Kidd how positive she was that the man running though the yard was Native. Seventy-five percent positive, she responded.
Active, 26, is originally from Togiak, though he has spent most of his adult life in prison. He was released from jail the same day Chea and Srea were killed: May 25, 2013. The state argues that in addition to killing the grandparents, he sexually assaulted three generations of the family while inside the Mountain View apartment.
Active's defense attorney argues he was never in the apartment.
The Sengs testified Monday. They said the man they found inside their home was Active.
On Tuesday, the state called three new witnesses. Two of them had interacted with Active on the day of the murders.
Jeremy Smith entered the courtroom through the interior door typically used by inmates. He was handcuffed as he testified. Assistant Attorney General Adam Alexander clarified that Smith's "legal troubles" aren't connected to Active's case.
Smith said he picked up Active from downtown Anchorage early on May 25, 2013. Active had already been drinking and the two went to Smith's girlfriend's apartment to drink a fifth of alcohol, he said.
The apartment was across an exterior hallway from the Sengs', according to testimony.
Active was aggressive toward two women in the apartment. Smith said he fought Active before telling him to "sleep it off" in a bedroom. Active never came out of that bedroom; he jumped out a small window without his shoes, Smith said.
Colin Coyle, Smith's girlfriend's roommate, said she told Active to leave her alone. She also said Active left without his shoes.
The state said during its opening presentation that Active was arrested wearing nothing but boxer shorts and bloody socks.
Coyle was sitting on the steps of the apartment later that day, waiting for her roommate to come home, when she heard glass shatter and a man and woman screaming.
"I remember clearly she was screaming, 'You killed my family,'" Coyle testified.
Coyle watched as Active's struggle with the Sengs eventually spilled out to the courtyard of the apartment. Olson asked Coyle if she could be confusing Jeremy Smith for Active.
"It was (Active). I know his face," she said.
Testimony ended early Tuesday afternoon. The trial is set to continue on Monday.