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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Porn Takes Center Stage |at Hot Car Death Trial

(CN) — A close friend of the Georgia man accused of leaving his toddler in a hot car to die testified on Wednesday that Justin Ross Harris asked him to monitor his internet use because he was addicted to porn.

Billy Kirkpatrick of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, said Harris came to him about his addiction to pornography and asked him to be his "accountability partner."

He was aware of the impact Harris's pornography problem had on his marriage to his now ex-wife Leanna Taylor, who testified on Monday and Tuesday.

"She was obviously devastated about that," he said.

While Kirkpatrick knew about Harris's internet activity, he wasn't aware of Harris's exchanging lewd messages with women and underage girls or of his sexual trysts with prostitutes.

Kirkpatrick said he "dropped the ball" on monitoring Harris and felt like he was ruining his marriage.

He described Harris as a unique personality who "never shuts up" when he's in public and is "incredibly friendly, very social and always the life of the party."

"He loved being the center of attention," Kirkpatrick said.

Sometimes, he added, "it's very difficult to put your finger on his uniqueness."

When Harris worked as a police dispatcher in Tuscaloosa, he used police jargon in conversations.

"He would randomly talk about crimes, but he would do it in code," Kirkpatrick said.

Earlier in the trial, prosecutors said Harris's use of the term "malice" during his initial questioning was suspicious.

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