Jurors in the Las Vegas trial of Jonathan Koppenhaver, the former UFC fighter known as War Machine, heard disturbing audio of a 911 call presented by the prosecution during its opening statement.
Koppenhaver, 35, faces 34 charges, including the attempted murder of his former girlfriend Christine Mackinday, sexual assault and kidnapping.
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Prosecutors on Monday played a recording of the 911 call Mackinday made early on Aug. 8, 2014. Lawnewz.com reported prosecutors played the audio "to give the jury a preview of what to expect when the State presents their case against War Machine."
Prosecutors told the jury (per the Las Vegas Journal-Review) that Koppenhaver told Mackinday during an attack on her: “This is it. I’ve got to kill you now."
Mackinday, an adult film actress who performs under the name Christy Mack, alleges Koppenhaver came over in the middle of the night while she was with her then-boyfriend of two months, Corey Thomas. Thomas testified Koppenhaver attacked him, battered him with punches and put him in a chokehold.
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Thomas testified he managed to escape the chokehold and get to his feet, then told Koppenhaver, “You've got to kill me, or you've got to let me go.” Mackinday had made the 911 call by then.
A bloodied Thomas left the house. Koppenhaver then allegedly beat Mackinday for about two hours. Mack suffered 10 broken bones, including fractures to a rib and an eye socket; a lacerated liver; and severe bruising. She also lost two teeth and had other teeth broken.
Koppenhaver attorney Jay Leiderman told the jury that Mackinday confided to Koppenhaver about "rape fantasies" and sought surprises during sex.
Testimony in the trial resumed Tuesday.
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can find his podcast, "The Fight Club Chicago," and subscribe on iTunes . You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA .
