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Latest on War Machine’s Attempted Murder Trial: Acquaintance Says He Used Steroids, Christy Mack Testifies

March 15, 2017 | Posted by Steve Gustafson

War Machine, a former UFC martial arts fighter who transitioned into a short-lived career in the adult film industry, stands accused of 34 felony counts, including sexual assault, attempted murder and battery, in the August 2014 beating of former adult star and girlfriend Christy Mack and her friend, Corey Thomas. In the attack, Mack sustained a broken nose, a blowout fracture to her eye, broken ribs, two broken teeth, a lacerated liver and bruises.

On Day 7 of the trial, the defense called martial arts fighter Herman Terrado, an acquaintance of War Machine who had sparred with him.

Terrado testified on various choke holds, and demonstrated to the jury how fighters can hold someone in submission. He showed off the various holds on War Machine defense attorney Brandon Sua, who also is a trained martial arts fighter.

Terrado also testified that War Machine had taken steroids to help bulk up for matches prior to his arrest.

On Day 6, the defense had called oral surgeon Dr. Steven Saxe as an expert witness.

Saxe testified that, in his opinion, numerous surgeries to correct Mack’s injuries were unnecessary. He said that the only medically necessary surgery Mack required was tooth replacement and that additional procedures likely were elective and for cosmetic reasons.

Also during Day 6, Mack’s mother took the stand as the last witness for the state’s case. Mack’s mother, Erin Mackinday, testified that she witnessed increasing episodes of violence between War Machine and her daughter.

When asked if she regretted not calling police after witnessing violence, Mackinday, looking directly at War Machine, said, “No … I wish I would have shot you.”

Mack, who took the witness stand last week, elaborated on the dark details about the physical abuse she suffered at the hands of War Machine.

“At first, they weren’t that frequent — maybe once a month — but as our relationship progressed the violence progressed,” Mack testified.

Mack also testified that War Machine sawed off her hair with a knife during the attack and told her that he would have to kill her and leave her in the desert.

The violence described in the state’s case against War Machine isn’t representative of that in the adult entertainment biz, according to longtime industry attorney Paul Cambria Nonetheless, Cambria indicated that War Machine likely is going to prison.

“The injuries are there, so it’s just a matter of the jury believing the testimony as to how they got there in order for them to convict,” Cambria said. “If convicted, I would anticipate a stiff sentence especially since the O.J. situation has changed the entire complexion of dealing with alleged domestic violence.”

Industry attorney Marc Randazza said: “If he ever sees the light of day from anywhere but a prison yard again, I am going to be really surprised.”

Born Jonathan Paul Koppenhaver, in 2008, he legally changed his name to “War Machine.”

article topics :

War Machine, Steve Gustafson