Court testimony has revealed that a weight plate was used to deliver the blows that killed Detroit firefighter David Madrigal.
Detroit Police homicide Sgt. Lance Sullivan read a transcript Wednesday of an interview with defendant Timmy Soto, where he said, "The flashbacks made me snap." Soto said he was at Madrigal's home on Vaughn Street in December when Madrigal started "rubbing" on his friend, co-defendant Nichole O'Neill, according to the interview transcript.
Soto said he started having memories of when his step-father touched his sister and it set him off, according to the interview transcript. Soto allegedly hit Madrigal in the head with the weight. A medical examiner has said blunt force trauma was the cause of death for Madrigal.
Soto, O'Neill and a third defendant, Christian Rasnick, are charged with felony murder, armed robbery, arson and larceny in connection with David Madrigal's death.
The three are accused of stealing a safe and guns from Madrigal's home, and his SUV.
A judge will decide whether to send them to trial after hearing testimony, which will continue later this month.