Holloway Gets 40 Years In Death Of UPS Driver

  • Monday, March 3, 2003

Harold Holloway Jr. has been given a 40-year prison sentence in the death of UPS truck driver Brad Huskey.

Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern Monday afternoon sentenced Holloway to 24 years for second-degree murder and a consecutive seven years for carjacking. He also got a consecutive nine years for attempted aggravated robbery. Another 5-year term for attempted theft was merged with the robbery.

The victim's parents and sister gave emotional testimony at the start of the sentencing hearing on how the bizarre killing had devastated their lives.

At the trial, the state had sought a first-degree murder conviction under the felony murder rule (a killing that happens along with another felony - such as a robbery or theft). That would have carried a life prison sentence.

The defense had argued that Holloway never intended for Brad Huskey to die.

District Attorney Cox at the trial told members of the jury that evidence from the two previous days of testimony had shown Holloway hitting the victim as the driver clung to the side of his truck with “fear on (his) face.” Mr. Cox said that Holloway’s own testimony had not shown a defendant suffering from mental illness.

“He tells the story as anyone who was conscious of their guilt would tell the story, and he tells the story in his best light, leaving out the incriminating parts,” Mr. Cox said. “He says that he had the intent to do something.”

“I don’t know how valiantly Mr. Huskey tried to ward him off,” Mr. Cox said, “But apparently he did until he got to the 6600 block of Shallowford Road, where he was overpowered…and died as a result of what this man did.”

Frequent analysis of Holloway has never proven any “mental illness or cocaine-induced psychosis,” the prosecutor said.

“We find that he has a bunch of character traits that are bad,” Mr. Cox said. “Bad character traits are not mental illnesses.” Psychological analysis has found an aggressive personality, antisocial behavior and tendencies toward violence in Holloway, the district attorney said.

Holloway’s defense claimed that his cocaine-induced state had caused him to believe that he was being chased and that he had no intent to steal the truck or kill the 23-year-old Huskey, who died when his body struck a telephone pole, causing several blunt force injuries. Mr. Cox attempted to diffuse the argument that the defendant could not form the intent to rob the victim by saying that he had formed the intent to take the vehicle.

“You don’t have the right to steal a vehicle and kill a many in order to get away from somebody even if there is somebody after you,” Mr. Cox said.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Schaarschmidt said Holloway’s actions leading up to the incident were not the actions of a man with “full control of their own mental state.”

Attorney Schaarschmidt recalled the testimony of Rick Pasley, whom Holloway had been in the same car with on the evening of the incident. Pasley said the defendant was pulling his shirt up throughout the evening, jumping on the hoods of cars and urging him to drive into an intersection despite oncoming traffic. “Not something a normal person would do in own state of mind, not even something someone would do when they’re high,” attorney Schaarschmidt said.

He said the prosecution had failed to show any intent by the defendant to rob Mr. Huskey or steal the truck he was driving, meaning that felony murder would not apply and the jury would have to find for a lesser charge of negligent homicide.

“They’re the actions of someone who just doesn’t know what the hell they’re doing,” he said. “He does not have the intent to comment the underlying felonies

“Mr. Halloway never intended for Mr. Huskey to die,” Mr. Schaarschmidt said. “Had their not been a telephone pole there, Mr. Huskey might still be alive today.”


Breaking News
New Hope Fire Department Disputes TWRA Report On Kayaker Rescues
  • 3/28/2024

New Hope Fire Department Corey Comstock disputed a report by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency about the rescue of 33 kayakers from extremely high winds near Nickajack Cave on Monday. ... more

Woman Dies After Being Seriously Injured In House Fire Thursday Afternoon
Woman Dies After Being Seriously Injured In House Fire Thursday Afternoon
  • 3/28/2024

A woman died after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a house fire on North Moore Road Thursday afternoon and was rescued by Chattanooga firefighters. Hamilton County 911 received a call ... more

Motorcyclist Hit Speeds Of 170 MPH; Posted Video Of Outrunning Police
Motorcyclist Hit Speeds Of 170 MPH; Posted Video Of Outrunning Police
  • 3/28/2024

A motorcyclist fled on Sunday, from a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempting to make a lawful stop on Highway 27. Since that time, the deputy has been working leads to identify the ... more