Jurors in murder trial hear incriminating tape

PORTLAND – Jurors in the Jeffery “Russ” Gorman murder trial Thursday heard a tape recording of grand jury testimony in which the defendant’s mother quoted her son as saying he killed Amy St. Laurent.

Chief Justice Nancy Mills took the highly unusual step of admitting Tammy Westbrook’s audiotaped testimony after Westbrook took the stand and maintained that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and could remember nothing about the case.

The trial wrapped up Thursday, with closing arguments scheduled for Friday morning in Cumberland County Superior Court.

In last February’s taped testimony, Westbrook said Gorman recounted to her by telephone from Alabama how he was walking with St. Laurent and then looked at her and saw his mother’s face. Then, according to the tape, he shot her in the head.