Opening Statements | Best Friend Murder Retrial

The State and Defense both give their opening statements to a new jury during this retrial of Austin Ford, the man accused of murdering his friend, Tori Lang.
Ford was tried on this murder in May of 2023 where the jury found him guilty of theft by taking and concealing the death of Lang. The jury could not come to a decision on if Ford killed Lang.
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[@TigerMa75]

If a friend suddenly tells you this and does what the defendant alleges - wouldn’t you phone police or a parent or a friend? You would be shocked at such a sudden horrifying act. To have the presence of mind to not only remove the weapon but burn out the car. All so proficiently and happen to have a change of clothing - remarkable. Whether he assisted her or did the act himself; he knew this act would happen.

[@clydebermingham121]

That’s true

[@Nefertiti0403]

What’s that noise? Sounds like someone is breathing into the microphone

[@soniafigueroa5170]

I know or on a ventilator.

[@No-smokin7]

😂 😂 😂 L.O.L.

[@FostersImposter1]

Maybe that's the State's case on the ventilator.

[@earth0128]

It's very distracting 😕

[@John-kv7jo]

Darth Vader is the videographer.

[@canadianadvantage6253]

Court TV are you not covering full trials anymore? It’s weird you are deciding what parts people should watch.

[@russianaloha4576]

Right!

[@pw191164]

Court tv are working to a narrative...WOKE

[@dudemorris7769]

They’ve only been covering the full trials of high profile, & that’s only if they aren’t going on at the same time

[@lovepet4565]

Its like an underwater breathing apparatus lol

[@dudemorris7769]

Sleeping

[@markbaz]

Uncle Phil, is that you. Phillip Banks trying cases again!

[@113016ify]

Didn’t notice until u said it😂😂

[@kellie4618]

Can't listen with that noise omg

[@TeamTowerDog]

Lol 😂 same!!!

[@carrow1057]

Sounds like someone is asleep.

[@whiskeyactual.]

The state was putting the jury to sleep with that opening statement. Defense is doing a FAR better job

[@hamishg0rdon]

yeah I'd love to have a little nap - but the sound recordist accidentally dropped the microphone into a paper shredder - so I kept waking up

[@whiskeyactual.]

@@hamishg0rdon 😆

[@traveltm]

I agree. It worries me. WTF? Does he want the defendant to get off?

[@clydebermingham121]

That’s for certain . The Defense had clear & deliberate directions. The Prosecution was just dragging words around & around … and not getting to something specific . How & why did he commit murder ? How did he even assist her to lose her life ? I can not see any other conclusion other than what the medical examiner who did the autopsy concluded Not able to determine DEFINITELY that it was one or the other . The gunshot wounds is the only certainty about the cause of death . Death by a gun that belonged to the victims family (parents ) … and was brought to location of her unfortunate demise … by her …. It’s a very sad end regardless 🙏🏽

[@clydebermingham121]

When someone dies we just want someone to pay …, But whether it was assisted suicide or not … is there any signs of a struggle from the victim ? 🙏🏽

[@CourtTV]

MORE HERE: www.courttv.com/news/ga-v-austin-ford-best-friend-murder-retrial/?

[@ASB412]

Who is breathing like they are sleeping on an open mike?

[@dudemorris7769]

Someone sleeping through that lazy opening statement.

[@pw191164]

The last time this case was tried it was monotonous, this will be the same!

[@johnwinters9530]

I don't understand why the Coroner's Examiner has not identified any GSR or "Blowback" of blood and tissue on the victims right hand and wrist? If she shot herself there would be GSR and Blood/tissue blowback on her wrist and hand. No mention of it so far, do they explore this issue?

[@dudemorris7769]

Ok, someone is actually sleeping during the opening statement. It took me to 5:23 to realize what it was. I was watching the judge thinking it was her at first but she was just stapling or printing papers. I thought it was a breathing machine or oxygen machine but it’s someone sleeping.

[@hamishg0rdon]

with all your technology - is that really the best audio you can produce? It sounds like the microphone is inside a plane engine

[@ellafacebooktruecrimecases3644]

Boring opening

[@maureenmckillop3622]

The lawyer should have practiced his opening statement, his stumbling of words makes him look weak.

[@davidw5731]

Julie is wrong on this case. The first jury split. Defendants have been convicted on similar evidence. The facts that play against conviction are that Prosecution cannot prove manner of death for sure, victim apparently did feel suicidal at times, and there is no clear motive. On the other side, defendant took all sorts of steps to conceal that he was there when this happened, and to hide and destroy evidence. I think jury could go either way on this one, depending on how they see this.

[@lauragarcia286]

He did it

[@traveltm]

Not a great opening. Hope do better as last time mistrial. I watched last time. I understand reasonable doubt and maybe because she has history of depression but IMO no “reasonable” doubt in my mind. His lies but mostly his actions and it makes no sense. She is all chipper when she goes to his apartment but wants to commit suicide but can’t, but still really really wants to die so needs him to do it. No way. I believe she stole the gun to sell for money and for some reason he killed her with it.

[@113016ify]

Does anyone hear the snoring 😴 from the camera man??

[@clydebermingham121]

Possibilities can not weigh above Probability. The weapon that was used to take the life of the victim was brought to a location by the victim herself … That parents never reported the gun stolen… Yet it was bright to the scene by the victim .

[@jaynebrookes2486]

Is there somebody sitting close to the camera mic on oxygen? It's really annoying.

[@deloisrichardson2636]

The question is why,,?he is quilts

[@clydebermingham121]

Ok …. After all is said and done …. Why did she have her mother’s gun? Is the accused responsible for that fact? A fact is that it’s concluded that she died from the gun shot wounds to the head from her mother’s gun … is that right ? How did she get , and why did she have her mother’s gun? Did she feel threatened at some point in her life ? Was it for some kind of gang or something ? Was she involved in some kind of dealings with some dangerous characters or something ? Or has the accused ever been charged with breaking into the home if the victim’s mom’s home to steal the mothers: gun or something ? I mean ,.. lawyers are always going to have folks draw a best picture for their case . The deceased victim was doing so well in life before she died … yet she had her mother’s gun in her possession? Is that correct ? Did I hear correctly ? Is the gun shot wounds that lead to the death of the victim for the mother’s gun? (Or is the accused being accused of being responsible for the mother’s gun’s presence in how it was some what involved in what lead to the demised of the victim?)

[@traveltm]

She had the gun to sell it for money as she had none. Not right thing to do but I think that is why she had it. It he asked her to get it.

[@mirandaajames]

I expected Uncle Phil to be much more engaging.

[@markbaz]

Yes, since he decided to step down from being a judge and started trying cases again 😅 ! ! !

[@blakejohnson7148]

"Washington has never been a particularly friendly place for Donald Trump" Why has that been running across the bottom of your screen all day?

[@JuryBirdie2]

Is the camera person using an oxygen mask? The breathing is loud loud lol

[@John-kv7jo]

Darth Vader is the video operator. You can hear him breathing while the prosecutor makes his opening statement. ;)

[@hazelparr8461]

Dont see at the minute only hearing this how he can be found guilty. No gun. No fingerprint, yes he lied to police but loads do that for a variety of reasons. I don't understand him changing clothes. Did she have gsr on her hands? Why commit suicide lying down? Did he say he took the gun and car? If so why it makes him look guilty? If you see your friend commit suicide why nkt call police? Why say he never saw her? All good questions but not enough proof to say he did it but i didn't know about the previous court case.

[@traveltm]

He admits to being with her. Also he took the gun and her car and burned it. Seen on video last person with her. For some odd reason he shut his phone off at the park. Lied to her mom, but yes could be for a variety of reasons. He ditched the gun and by burning car may have destroyed evidence. Not sure should be rewarded for that. If follow the whole time line and his story, it’s BS. But I think your questions are why first trial mistrial. I don’t have confidence state bothered to fix its case (going by his monotone opening) so do wonder about the outcome of this trial.

[@hazelparr8461]

@@traveltm thank you

[@thekaerichtexas]

Who breathing hard????

[@clydebermingham121]

The young man has been diagnosed with having some sort of disorder … which may be a cause as to why & how he may have behaved in an unusual manner … But whether he was directly involved im her death or not , it would appear that she may have wanted to end her life .

[@clydebermingham121]

One remarkable matter to consider though , that the victim seems to have had some difficulty & trouble … and not totally happy about life … as the prosecution & family members winded to project …

[@clydebermingham121]

It is so unfortunate that she lost her life …. And now another life is on the balance