Published on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
in the Gainesville Sun

Man's trial in FHP trooper's death begins

CROSS CITY - On Monday morning, a Columbia County jury began hearing the story of how Florida Highway Patrol Trooper George Andrew Brown III died in April 2004 when his Camaro crashed into a tree.

Gregory Hampton Platt, a man already serving a 55-year prison term for crimes committed in Citrus County on the day Brown died, faces a life sentence if convicted in the trooper's death.

In his opening statement, Assistant State Attorney Todd Hingson told jurors that on the morning of April 27, 2004, Brown "did what he had done for 30 years - he climbed in behind the wheel of his patrol car."

Brown's body had to be removed from the 2002 Camaro after a collision with a tree so violent that the state-issued car was nearly split in two.

Platt is accused of leading Brown on a 100 mph chase that led to the fatal crash alongside Sisters Welcome Road near Lake City. Platt is charged with second-degree murder, fleeing an officer in a high-speed pursuit, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Chief Assistant Public Defender Herbert Ellis countered by telling jurors that FHP made a presumption in the case, "a rush to judgment that someone murdered" Brown and he said "FHP acted emotionally." Ellis told jurors that they would need to determine "what is an emotional opinion and what is reality."

Hingson said jurors could expect to hear from witnesses that Brown saw Platt speeding, pulled Platt over and was walking up to the driver's side window of Platt's car when Platt suddenly sped off. Hingson said Brown ran back to his car and was right behind Platt's car when Platt pulled on his emergency brake, forcing Brown to steer hard to the left to avoid rear-ending Platt's car. Brown apparently lost control of the Camaro and collided with the tree.

In 1991 Platt began serving a seven-year prison sentence for multiple crimes in Lee and Collier counties, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery with a gun or deadly weapon and kidnapping in the commission of a felony.

Citrus County officials said it was just over a year ago - on Sept. 26, 2005 - that Platt was sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison for crimes committed in Citrus County on the day of Brown's death: two counts of aggravated battery, fleeing and attempting to elude, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.