Tucker Richard is seen entering the Chautauqua County Courtroom. PJ photo: Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE – The prosecution has postponed its defense in the murder trial of an Ellicott man accused of killing his stepfather nearly two years ago.

Friday was People’s eighth day against Tucker Richard. Richard, 20, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 57-year-old Scott Blake.

Trial began Friday with Ellicott Police Department’s Kevin Pierce returning to the witness stand to be questioned by the defense.

Lynn Schaffer of the Public Defender’s Office stated that Richard was not given medical attention even though he told Pierce that Blake had hit him in the head with a shotgun.

Pierce said Richard did not seek any medical attention. He later learned that a photo had been taken showing Richard’s head bruised.

Schaffer asked Pierce if head injuries could lead to concussions and if concussions could lead to memory problems, to which Pierce replied, “I guess they could.”

Pierce confirmed to the defense that Richard never appeared angry or raised his voice while being questioned. He also admitted that Richard voluntarily agreed to be interviewed twice because the recorder was not working properly during the first interview.

The prosecution requested that the recording be played, but District Court Judge David Foley denied the request, saying the quality was too poor.

Pierce also confirmed that Richard’s bedroom door handle and lock were broken and there was damage to the door frame.

During opening statements on October 21, the defense claimed that Blake entered Richard’s bedroom because his room was messy and shot Richard in the head with a shotgun.

After the defense questioned Pierce, District Attorney Jason Schmidt asked Pierce if Richard was consistent in his testimony, but Pierce said he was not.

In the initial interview, Pierce said Richard told him that he and Blake wrestled for one of the guns, and that Blake shot himself in the process.

Pierce said in a later interview that Richard told him that he shot Blake after he took the gun away from him and that Blake went to get another shotgun.

Following Pierce, Brian Peterson was brought to the stand. Peterson was once friends with Blake. He later dated Tucker’s mother, Jessica, and so Peterson said Blake blamed her for the end of his relationship with Jessica.

During Peterson’s statement, it was shared that Jessica has since died.

Peterson said Tucker and his mother didn’t always get along, so Tucker would stay with either Blake or Tucker’s grandmother, Judy.

Peterson had visited Blake’s home on January 6, 2023, shortly before Blake was shot and killed. He said he and Jessica stopped by to pick up the daughter Jessica and Blake share together.

Peterson said Blake initially appeared to be in a good mood while he was there. But at one point he said he heard a crash upstairs and later Blake and Richard were heard arguing.

Peterson said he didn’t witness anything physical between the two, but there was a lot of yelling.

Peterson said he heard Blake say that Richard had “cut off his gun,” so Blake asked for Richard to move out.

At one point, Peterson said, Blake and Richard stood close to each other, yelling back and forth.

Peterson said he told them both to stop yelling and left a short time later with Jessica and her daughter.

The three of them set out for Jamestown. A traffic camera recorded Peterson traveling in Jamestown at 9:58 p.m., which Peterson said happened just minutes after he left Blake’s home.

On the opening day of testimony, Nicholas Caldwell, a Sheriff’s Office officer, said Richard called 911 around 10 p.m., saying he had been woken up by Blake and that Richard had shot and killed his stepfather.

After the prosecution spoke with Peterson, Public Defender Nathaniel Barone began a series of questioning.

He asked Peterson about Blake’s disagreement over Jessica. Peterson insisted that he and Jessica did not have a relationship until Jessica moved out, but said Blake was upset about their relationship.

In November 2022, Peterson was arrested after getting into a physical fight with Blake.

Peterson said Jessica went to Blake’s house and waited for him in the driveway. While Jessica was outside, Peterson said he saw Blake push her and Peterson got out of the vehicle.

He walked over to Jessica and then she and Blake got into a fight. “I had to defend myself,” Peterson said.

This was the only time Peterson was arrested for a dispute with Blake.

Peterson was also arrested while living in Georgia. He told the court that these arrests were mainly due to a dispute with his ex-wife.

Peterson was the last member called by the prosecution.

The trial is planned to continue on Monday.

Barone declined to say what his plans are for the defense, including whether he plans to bring any witnesses or whether Richard will take the stand.