4:56 pm CT October 27, 2025
Second-degree murder will be part of jury instructions
Table of Contents
- Second-degree murder will be part of jury instructions
- Defense rests in case; jury instructions coming
- Another use of force expert
- ‘Successful de-escalation’
- Expert: Use of force by Grayson ‘appropriate’
- Grayson was ‘panicked,’ breathing heavily
- Grayson: ‘A Taser doesn’t work on everybody’
- What is a directed verdict?
- Cross-examination of Sean Grayson
- Grayson explains why he drew his gun
- Grayson said he had a Taser
- Grayson on the stand
- Grayson testifying
Steven Spearie
Second-degree murder will now be part of the jury instructions.
Judge Cadagin admonished Grayson to that effect at the end of court.
Grayson, who testified earlier Monday, replied that he understood the instruction.
Court will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 28 to further formalize the instructions which the jury will hear after closing arguments.
Second-degree murder still involves intent, but without premeditation.
Grayson could be sentence for first-degree, which carries a 45-year to life sentence; second degree, which is 4 to 20 years or be acquitted.
3:18 pm CT October 27, 2025
Defense rests in case; jury instructions coming
Steven Spearie
The defense has rested and the court will give jury instructions at 3:30 p.m.
Closing arguments have now been set for Tuesday morning.
The defense rested after use of force expert Kevin Davis said he wrote his 67-page report on the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey neutrally, dispassionately, but State’s Attorney John Milhiser tried to poke holes into notion.
On cross-examination, Milhiser said Davis used phrases like “the clearly aggressive and attacking” Sonya Massey and that Massey “flung the liquid,” meaning the contents of the pot she removed from the stove.
Wykoff, on-redirect, asked Davis how many times in the report he cited his book “Use of Force Investigations: A Manual for Law Enforcement.” Davis said none.
Wykoff asked if he was on a book tour, a dig at State’s witness Seth Stoughton.
3:03 pm CT October 27, 2025
Another use of force expert
Steven Spearie
Kevin Davis, a law enforcement officer for nearly four decades, a large chunk of it with the Akron (Ohio) Police Department, said Grayson’s actions during the shooting of Sonya Massey shooting were in line with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office lethal use of force policy and other generally accepted police practices.
Davis has previously testified for the prosecution and defense.
Like the testimony of Corbitt, there would have been de-escalation if the pot had been put down by Massey.
Davis, talking about the body-worn camera footage, said video is only “part of the evidence” and a number of problems come up with video digital evidence.
Davis is about to be cross-examined.
1:25 pm CT October 27, 2025
‘Successful de-escalation’
Steven Spearie
Use of force expert Glyn Corbitt, on cross-examination by Sangamon County First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers, said the shooting of Sonya Massey in the face was “a successful de-escalation.”
For Corbitt, “de-escalation” isn’t a technique, but “an outcome,” though officers can be taught techniques to get to the outcome.
“De-escalation,” he acknowledged, would have been achieved if Massey had put down the pot of boiling water.
Now on the stand is another use of force expert, Kevin Davis of Akron, Ohio.
12:10 pm CT October 27, 2025
Expert: Use of force by Grayson ‘appropriate’
Steven Spearie
A use of force expert from the Atlanta metro area testified that he came to the conclusion that Grayson’s discharge of his firearm against Sonya Massey, based policies and principles, was “appropriate.”
Glyn Corbitt, who has a training and consulting business separate from his employment as an officer in Coweta County, Georgia, said analysis has to consider the “totality of events” leading up to use of force.
Corbitt said it was a critical incident that turned into a use of force when Massey picked up the pot of boiling water from the stove and Grayson realized there was an imminent threat.
Corbitt, who testified in several criminal trials, mostly for the defense, said he reviewed police reports and body-worn camera footage prior to issuing a 15-page opinion on the matter.
The State will cross-examine Corbitt when court resumes at 1 p.m.
10:43 am CT October 27, 2025
Grayson was ‘panicked,’ breathing heavily
Steven Spearie
Defense witness Dep. Jason Eccleston of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office said Grayson was “panicked” and breathing heavily when he met him after the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey on July 6, 2024.
Eccleston saw Grayson in the middle of the road when Eccleston responded to the scene in the Cabbage Patch area of Laketown.
Eccleston said Grayson “started sobbing at my (squad) car.” Eccleston told Grayson to be quiet and relax.
Eccleston testified that he would spend the next four to five hours with Grayson.
10:21 am CT October 27, 2025
Grayson: ‘A Taser doesn’t work on everybody’
Steven Spearie
In an incredible turn of events, Sean Grayson took the stand in his own defense, after the State rested and Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin denied the defense’s request for a directed verdict.
What is a directed verdict?
After the prosecution rested its case in the opening moments of court on Oct. 27, Mark Wykoff, an attorney for Sean Grayson, asked Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin for “a directed verdict,” which would allow the judge to decide the case instead of a jury.
Wykoff said the prosecution had failed to meet its burden of proof and asked to judge to sidestep the jury and render a decision on his own. The State objected and the judge denied the directed verdict.
Cross-examination of Sean Grayson
On cross-examination, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said Grayson brought up “new information” that wasn’t detailed in his field report from July 9, 2024.
That included advancing towards Sonya Massey to handcuff her for aggravated assault of a police office.
Responding to Fultz on re-direct, Grayson said he didn’t think he had to put everything in the field report because there was body-worn camera footage in evidence.
Grayson explains why he drew his gun
In testimony earlier, Grayson said he considered using a Taser, but said at the time the distance from Massey was a concern as was whether the Taser was going to work on her, given her layers of clothing.
Grayson testified that he had used a Taser before on a subject, but it hadn’t worked.
9:59 am CT October 27, 2025
Grayson said he had a Taser
Steven Spearie
Grayson admitted he had a Taser but wasn’t sure if it would work given his distance from Massey and the layer of clothes she had on.
He had used a Taser before, and it hadn’t worked.
9:40 am CT October 27, 2025
Grayson on the stand
Steven Spearie
In testimony, Grayson admitted he thought someone was in Sonya Massey’s house.
He questioned her about her damaged vehicle. She denied ownership, but she thought she might have been in trouble.
That also proved to be case when Massey wouldn’t give Grayson her name.
9:08 am CT October 27, 2025
Grayson testifying
Steven Spearie
As State rests, Sean Grayson is now on the stand.
Attorney Daniel Fultz is questioning him about his background now.
Judge Cadagin rejected the defense’s request for a directed verdict.
