Testimony, closing statements conclude in McDonald trial

TOCCOA, Ga. — The jury is expected to begin deliberations today in the trial of Toccoa physician Harry McDonald.

Testimony and closing statements concluded Thursday in Stephens County Superior Court. McDonald has pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated sexual battery and to two counts of making false statements to authorities.

Testimony Thursday came from one witness, McDonald, who was on the stand for about four hours.

He denied inappropriately touching any of the women who have accused him of doing so. Under cross-examination, he admitted to five extramarital affairs over the course of more than 30 years.

Assistant District Attorney Rick Bridgeman questioned McDonald extensively about a tape that was entered into evidence in the trial.

On that recording of a conversation between McDonald and an accuser on Jan. 6, the woman asks why the doctor placed his fingers inside a private location on her body and why he made a comment about a particular part of her body. Authorities charged him with inappropriately touching the woman in his Falls Road medical office in Toccoa.

On the recording, McDonald admits to and apologizes for the comment, but does not address the other part of the question. Under questioning by Bridgeman, McDonald testified he did not hear that part of the question.

On the tape, the accuser asks again why McDonald placed his fingers in certain location. McDonald is heard on the tape to say that he was checking glands and did something he should not have done and that he was sorry for that.

In his closing statement, Defense Attorney Bill Oliver said that because testimony about when the tape was turned on and off did not match with what was on the recording, the tape was unreliable. He also contended that the accuser’s demeanor after the alleged event did not match with what type of demeanor a victim would have.

But in the prosecution’s closing statement, District Attorney Brian Rickman said the tape and statements made on it are evidence of guilt.