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EDGARD – The prosecution called its final witnesses today in the trial against Kyle David Joekel, one of the men charged with first degree murder in the August 16, 2012 ambush-style shooting deaths of St. John the Baptist Parish deputies Jeremy Triche and Brandon Nielsen.

The defense is expected to bring its first witness to the stand Thursday morning when the trial resumes at 9 a.m. in Edgard.

The other alleged shooter in the case, Brian Smith, is being held in a mental hospital after being found incompetent to stand trial. According to prosecutors, Joekel and Smith are part of the “sovereign citizens,” a group the FBI has linked to domestic terrorism.

Expert testimony from DNA, fingerprint and ballistics analysts was shared Wednesday in a high security Edgard courtroom. Jury members were selected from Rapides Parish to give Joekel the right to a fair trial, a precaution made necessary by the extreme impact the deputies’ deaths have had on the St. John the Baptist Parish community.

An expert analyst testified Wednesday that Joekel’s DNA was found on an AK-47 from the scene. Witnesses state Joekel used the AK-47 to fire into Nielsen’s chest repeatedly at point-blank range, ending his life.

The defense argued that DNA not belonging to Joekel was also found on the weapon. Throughout the trial, the defense has maintained Brian Smith fired the shots that killed Triche and Nielsen, and that Joekel was simply injured in the crossfire.

Each expert called to the stand discussed the process of transporting and analyzing evidence, along with the information that can be derived from DNA samples.

On Tuesday, Chanel Skains took the stand and testified that her former stepson, Brian Smith, was the gunman who began firing shots in the early morning massacre. She reported seeing Joekel pick up a weapon in the middle of the shooting.

Skains also testified that she was with Jeremy Triche during his final moments. This was corroborated by officer Chip Wale’s Monday testimony in which he reported seeing a woman crying over Jeremy Triche’s body during the chaos.

Skains was the wife of Terry Smith, who was also present during the shooting and identified by law enforcement as a Sovereign Citizen. Skains and Brian Smith’s former girlfriend, Brittney Keith, said they were threatened by their partners on almost a daily basis and even held at gunpoint at times.

Jury members also viewed autopsy photos of the fallen officers during court on Tuesday. With gunshot wounds staining the victims’ bodies, it was a gruesome sight that elicited raw emotions from family members seated near the front of the courtroom.

Nolan Boutte, a member of victim’s rights group Crimefighters, said the fallen officers were victims first and policemen second. He referred to the officers as “warriors” and expressed sympathy for the family members who have to sit through the painful trial.

The trial continues Thursday at 9 a.m.