Road-rage killing suspect seeks to show jury crime scene

FILE PHOTO- Chris Schnarr is pictured in a booking photo from the Pulaski County sheriff's office. The intersection where he fatally shot a man during a road-rage incident is in the background.
FILE PHOTO- Chris Schnarr is pictured in a booking photo from the Pulaski County sheriff's office. The intersection where he fatally shot a man during a road-rage incident is in the background.

A North Little Rock man accused of killing another man during a fit of road rage in May 2013 appeared in court Monday to ask the judge if the jury in his trial could be taken to the scene of the altercation.

Chris Schnarr, 28, appeared in Pulaski County circuit court with his attorney Monday to ask Judge Leon Johnson whether the jury could be allowed to visit the intersection of Sixth and Ferry streets in Little Rock, where Schnarr shot and killed 45-year-old Arista Aldridge in May 2013.

Schnarr’s attorney said he believed a visit to the site would shed light on why Schnarr felt threatened by Aldridge. The prosecuting attorney said just because the location of the crime is near the court house does not mean it is necessary for the jury to see it, and that pictures and videos collected by officers would do a fine job of showing the area without needing to arrange for the jury to be transported there.

Johnson said that if the jury was still confused by the crime scene after the video and pictures were shown, he would consider the proposal, but at the moment, he was not willing to grant the request.

Schnarr’s attorney also said he would be presenting Aldridge’s past criminal history of violence and orders of protection drawn up against him, saying it indicates Aldridge having had a violent character.

Schnarr and Aldridge got into an argument, and Aldridge put his finger in Schnarr’s face after the pair pulled over, according to the affidavit. Aldridge was walking back to his car when Schnarr fired three shots at Aldridge, court filings state.

Aldridge was taken to UAMS Medical Center, where he died later that day.

Upcoming Events