The trial against a Massachusetts man charged with driving high on marijuana and causing the death of a state police trooper continued Tuesday.
Just one hour before David Njuguna struck and killed Massachusetts State Police Trooper Thomas Clardy on the Massachusetts Turnpike in March 2016, surveillance video allegedly shows Njuguna purchasing marijuana at a Brookline dispensary.
The video from New England Treatment Access was presented as evidence in the trial against Njuguna, as NETA employees testified Tuesday.
"He purchased four pre-rolled cigarettes," said NETA employee Jacob Quarrell.
Quarrell described the interaction he had with Njuguna the morning of the fatal crash.
"Do you recall his demeanor at all that day?" the prosecutor asked Quarrell.
"He seemed happy," Quarrell responded.
Quarrell also described the plastic tubes the marijuana cigarettes would have been packaged in – similar to the ones investigators said they found in Njuguna's car – complete with the patient's name and product labels.
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"Are there any warnings on the labels?" asked the prosecutor.
"It's illegal and dangerous to drive under the influence," answered Quarrell.
UMass nurse Nancy Isabella said when Njuguna was in the intensive care unit, he denied using marijuana prior to the crash.
"Do you recall if he told you when the last time he had taken it was from your own memory today?" the prosecutor asked.
"He said he didn't remember exactly, but it had been several months," she responded.
The defense challenged Isabella on her recollection of what Njuguna said may have caused the accident.
"He said he was driving and he thinks he fell asleep," said Isabella.
"Are you aware that he told people he had no memory of the accident?" the defense attorney asked.
"I recall he said to me he didn't remember the accident," Isabella said.
The trial resumes Wednesday at 9 a.m. It's expected to be an abbreviated day of testimony.
