Boone County prosecutors and defense attorney Kevin O’Brien say Columbia Police need to turn over surveillance video that has been referenced in television news reports about an alleged October rape in Columbia.
The case involves Columbia physician Dr. Travis Birkhead, who’s charged with raping a woman he met at the Black and Gold tavern on the Business Loop. Some news reports have referenced that Columbia Police have surveillance video of Dr. Birkhead and the alleged victim on the day or evening of the incident.
939 the Eagle News was in the courtroom Friday, when O’Brien told Boone County Judge Kevin Crane and prosecutors that he has still not seen that surveillance video from Patriot Place apartments on the Business Loop. He is entitled to that under discovery, and Boone County prosecutors tell Counselor O’Brien and Judge Crane that Columbia Police have the video and are working on getting it to O’Brien.
Dr. Birkhead’s next court hearing is set for Friday. He remains jailed on a $1-million bond.
Counselor O’Brien has said in open court that the woman wouldn’t leave Birkhead’s home that night, saying she “went crazy.” O’Brien says there was no sexual assault and that it was Dr. Birkhead who had to call Columbia Police to ask the woman to leave his home. Boone County prosecutors have said in open court that the victim is afraid Birkhead will come after her if he’s released, adding that he allegedly has a history of threatening people.
