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Blood Pro Testifies Before Prosecution Rests In Rosa Trial

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 17, 2008

TAMPA - After prosecutors called their final witnesses today — several expert witnesses who testified about DNA links and blood stain patterns — the state has rested its case against Joshua Rosa.

The defense will begin witness testimony after a lunch break.

Rosa, 22, is charged with murder in the death of Stephen Tomlinson. Prosecutors say Rosa killed the 13-year-old at Logan Gate Park No. 3 in northwestern Hillsborough County on Dec. 8, 2005.

When Stephen was found, his pants were down and his nose and shirt were bloody.

Stephen's blood was found on Rosa's shoes, hands and pants, prosecutors said. DNA samples on a set of fingernail clippers found on Rosa matched that of Stephen.

A blood stain analyst testified this morning that blood found on a pair of Rosa's white gloves was consistent with someone holding a hand over Stephen's mouth while Stephen's nose was bleeding.

Defense attorney Brian Gonzalez suggested that the blood pattern actually was from Rosa wiping blood from Stephen's nose, as Rosa had said to sheriff's deputies.

Gonzalez has told the jury that Rosa did not kill Stephen. His client was jogging through the woods that day and lost his keys, Gonzalez says. When he returned to look for them, he came upon Stephen's body and tried to help.

Although no one witnessed Stephen's death, prosecutors have pointed out statements that show inconsistencies in Rosa's story. Rosa, for example, told a young man who was in the woods that night that he found someone dead or injured and he needed help. The young man asked Rosa whether he knew the person who died. Rosa said he did not.

Rosa, a former youth minister at Zion Pentecostal Church for All People, lived near the Tomlinson family. He occasionally took Stephen to his church and introduced him to church members.

If convicted, Rosa faces life in prison. The trial is expected to continue at least through Friday.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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