Defense to Present Case in Cooper Ouellette Manslaughter Trial

Prosecutors Rested Their Case

Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday in the trial of Cooper Ouellette, the man accused of killing his 17-year-old girlfriend, Sophie Ringquist, with a pickup truck in May 2023. The state’s case hinges on a reconstruction of the incident in Burlington, built largely on digital forensics. Investigators presented Life360 location data and cellphone records to the jury, alongside testimony from the lead investigator. The trial has also featured emotional accounts from Ringquist’s family, who described the moments before they transported her to the hospital.

Conflicting Accounts of a Fatal Night

Ouellette, who has entered a plea of not guilty, faces charges of first-degree manslaughter and delivery of alcohol to a minor. The core of the legal dispute rests on two opposing narratives. According to an arrest warrant, Ringquist was attempting to record a selfie video when the truck door opened. The warrant alleges that Ouellette then stomped on the gas pedal, causing her to fall to the ground.

FULL TESTIMONY | Defendant Cooper Ouellette's mother Kerri testifies in his manslaughter trial

The Defense’s Theory of Accident

The defense rejects the prosecution’s version of events, maintaining that the death was a tragic accident. Their argument asserts that Ringquist either fell or jumped from the vehicle. As the trial moves into its next phase, the defense is expected to challenge the state’s technical evidence by focusing on the specific operation of the truck and the circumstances surrounding how the victim exited the vehicle.

Defense Will Present Case Thursday

The trial is set to resume Thursday at approximately 10 a.m., when the defense team will begin presenting its case. The proceedings have drawn significant attention for their reliance on the intersection of modern digital evidence and traditional testimonial accounts. With the state’s evidence now on the record, the courtroom will pivot to testing whether the defense can successfully establish the incident as a non-criminal event.