Jurors visit site in Acadia where woman’s body was found
Raymond Lester, 35, is charged with the murder of Nicole Mokeme.
ELLSWORTH, Maine (WABI) - Jurors in the trial for the Portland man accused of hitting and killing his girlfriend with his car in Acadia National Park last year were shown Wednesday the site where her body was found.
Raymond Lester, 35, is charged with one count of intentional or knowing murder.
Lester previously pleaded not guilty.
Authorities say Lester hit 35-year-old Nicole Mokeme with his BMW during a retreat on the campus of the Schoodic Education and Research Center in Acadia National Park in June 2022.
Witnesses say Lester was seen driving around drinking alcohol, playing loud music, and at one point he made shooting gestures toward the group who was there for the retreat Mokeme was leading.
Jurors visited the site Wednesday and were shown the walking trail where authorities say Lester hit Mokeme, and then took off.
A first responder who was one of the first on the scene testified that they found Mokeme’s body on the morning of June 19.
He told jurors Mokeme was “cold to the touch.”
He also testified tire tracks could be seen leaving the walking trail where driving is prohibited.
Lester was on the lam for more than a month.
Authorities found him in Cancun, Mexico in July 2022 and was later brought back to Maine.
The trial resumes Thursday morning and is expected to last through the end of the week.
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