PORT ANGELES — Taking the stand in his own defense Wednesday, accused killer Robert Gene Covarrubias admitted to being a methamphetamine addict, but repeatedly denied that he raped and murdered 15-year-old Melissa Leigh Carter.
“Absolutely not,” said Covarrubias, 25.
Those two words he uttered repeatedly during the 11th day of his first-degree murder trial for the sexual assault and slaying of Carter, who was last seen by friends Dec. 23, 2004, as she was leaving a party at the Chinook Motel on East First Street.
Her nude body was found less than three days later on a wooded hillside overlooking Waterfront Trail, east of downtown Port Angeles. Experts for the prosecution have testified that she was sexually assaulted and strangled.
Covarrubias has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Covarrubias admits to lies
In the morning, public defender Ralph Anderson led Covarrubias through a narrative of events about the night that agreed and conflicted with the story he originally told police investigators about the party at the Chinook Motel.
Like a number of other witnesses, Covarrubias admitted to lying to police during the investigation.
“I was scared of them trying to get me for statutory rape,” he said, noting that he believed Carter to be 18 or 19.
“I’ve been to prison, and I know what happens to people who have sex with minors.”
Carter and Covarrubias had consensual sexual contact at the party before using methamphetamine and alcohol, he testified, contrary to what he told investigators.
Forensic experts testified that Carter had methamphetamine in her urine, but not blood, indicating that she had not used the drug immediately before her death.
Covarrubias also said an acquaintance injected about a quarter of a gram of methamphetamine into his arm and he drank about 11 beers at the party.
After a fight between Carter and her boyfriend, Covarrubias and Carter rendezvoused at about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 24, 2004, near a empty house on East Third Street, he said.
He denied ever walking on Waterfront Trail the night authorities believe Carter was killed.
Carter left around dawn, he said. He also said she asked him not to tell her boyfriend about their encounters.
Facial hair debated
Additionally, Covarrubias said that he cannot grow a goatee, contradicting a witness on Waterfront Trail the night Carter disappeared who previously testified that he saw Covarrubias there, and identified him by his goatee.
Kelly seized upon Covarrubias’ assertion that he could not grow a mustache and asked to admit into evidence two booking photos of Covarrubias with facial hair.