Two witnesses have taken the stand so far on Tuesday, the second day in the murder of Tara Baker, including a former classmate and close friend of the UGA law student who was slain over 25 years ago. Edrick Faust, who was not arrested until 2024 DNA analysis linked him to the case, is charged with Baker's murder on 12 counts, including murder, rape, arson and aggravated sodomy.
Dr. Andrew Falzone, former medical examiner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation who performed the autopsy on Baker’s body in 2001, was first to be called to the stand. Dozens of exhibits from the autopsy were introduced in court to be used as evidence, one of which, a bag marked as pubic hair, was objected to by the defense as empty and irrelevant. Their objection was overruled.
Katherine Lahnstein, who became “fast friends” with Baker in their first year of law school, was next to take the stand. She last saw Baker on her way out of the library on Jan. 18, 2001 around 9 p.m, one day before Baker’s 24th birthday.
Lahnstein recalled their last conversation, a phone call she received from Baker around 9:30pm that night, when Baker “admonished” Lahnstein for failing to call her to confirm she had made it home safely.
She did not see Baker in class the following morning, nor did Baker arrive at the winery that night as the two had planned to celebrate her birthday. Lahnstein received word of Baker’s death on January 20, which was confirmed to her from a newspaper headline.
Day one of the trial led Western Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Lisa Lott, who is presiding over the case, to find defense attorney Ahmad Crews in contempt of court and fined him 1k after he violated pre-trial motions for the 2nd time in 10 minutes during opening statements.
“This is the second time, Judge, Mr. Crews has violated the rules to work himself around the state rules of Georgia,” District Attorney Kalki Yalamanchili said.
Testimonies from a 911 responder and more will proceed through Tuesday afternoon, and court will resume for the 7 day trial tomorrow morning.
