Manslaughter trial for Tanner Cox continues
The jury trial for Tanner Cox continued Wednesday. Cox is charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection to the May 9, 2015 death of Josh Olzak.
EarlySaturday morning on May 9th, Idaho Falls Police sayOlzak was beaten to death in aroad rage incident at 25th and Holmes. Police say the incidence stemmed from an earlier argument at a local bar.
Police officers and doctors testified about the fatal injuries Olzak sustained on the night of the incident.
EIRMC NeurosurgeonDr.Robert Cach, who examinedOlzak while he was in the hospital, testified on Olzak’s condtion, saying at one point Olzak suffered a seizure.
Doctor Charles Garrison who performed the autopsy, says the victim Joshua Olzak, suffered blunt force trauma and fractures on both side of the skull.
Officers showed body camera footage from that night to the jury. Cox was shown in the video saying he met both Olzak and Josh Loveless at a bar and was confused as to why they might be going after him. Sergeant Prudent took the stand saying she noticed what appeared to be blood on Cox’s hands and the man who was believed to be in the car with cox.
Prosecutors brought in one man who was with Cox on the night of the incident, but he pleaded the 5th amendment to many of the questions posed to him.The Prosecuting Attorney asked for him to be listed as an unavailable witness.
Another man who was at the Peppertree Lounge that night also testified. James Skelton appeared on the witness stand detailing his experience at the bar the same night the incident happened. In a separate incident, he said Cox punched him at the bar and apologized.
