Judge John Economopoulos ruled Thursday that expert witness Holly Rosen can testify on the subject of domestic violence and sexual assault at Tavaris Jackson's upcoming murder trial. (Photo by Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – A judge ruled Thursday that an expert on domestic violence can testify in the upcoming trial of a man accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend in 2023.

Tavaris Jackson appeared virtually Thursday in the 47th Circuit Court of Delta County in Escanaba for a motion filed by his defense team to exclude or limit the expert testimony of Holly Rosen, an expert in trauma and victimization, from his upcoming trial, set for March.

Judge John Economopoulos ultimately allowed Rosen to testify after the Michigan Attorney General’s Office proposed her as an expert witness.

Rosen’s testimony is intended to explain patterns and dynamics of domestic violence and the behaviors of individuals experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault that may appear irrational or counterintuitive to the jury or general public.

The 35-year-old Jackson faces one count of open murder, a felony punishable by up to life in prison, in the death of 22-year-old Harley Corwin, whose body was found in Delta County’s O.B. Fuller Park in Ford River Township in July 2023. He also faces one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, a two-year felony; and assault resulting in the death of a fetus, also a felony punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Michigan Assistant Attorney General Caitlin Kirby cited Rosen’s education, professional background and extensive courtroom experience, noting that she has testified 146 times in Michigan courts and has been qualified as an expert witness in 27 counties.

Rosen has extensive field experience as a director of the MSU Safe Place, a domestic violence shelter and advocacy program. Rosen was also a clinical supervisor of a counseling program as a field Instructor with the MSU School of Social Work.

Kirby also referenced a recent ruling in which Economopoulos found certain statements made by Corwin to be admissible at trial.

“This case has a lot of elements of domestic violence and a long-patterned history of domestic violence, including our current victim in this matter,” said Kirby. “There is testimony that the court did view as admissible in relation to Harley Corwin and evidence of domestic violence coming in, along with several other victims.”

Kirby cited the purpose of Rosen’s witness testimony under Michigan law is to assist the jury in assessing testimony and to educate the jury on general victim behaviors during and after assault.

“It has been long recognized that the behaviors of victims of varying kinds of trauma often appear irrational or confusing to most people,” said Kirby while quoting the Michigan Court of Appeals case law. “Expert testimony is admissible and appropriate to explain that behavior with no need to engage an analysis of scientific reliability.”

Kirby added the jury will specifically be instructed on how to weigh each other acts evidence and testimony brought to trial.

If the jury decides the defendant did commit the other acts, they can consider those acts in deciding whether or not the defendant committed the offense or offenses for which he’s on trial for.

“This case that we are going to trial on is the textbook example of why we have behavioral expert testimony and exactly why all of these jury instructions exist,” said Kirby.

Defense attorney Diane Kay-Hougaboom argued that Rosen’s testimony may bolster the credibility of other acts witnesses that will testify at trial in regard to aspects like delayed reporting, impacts of trauma on their life, their responses and more.

“In this case, we have no such offer of proof by the prosecutor that the expert testimony is admitted for the purposes of explaining any specific behavior,” said Kay-Hougaboom.

“The defense’s position is very clear in that any questioning of any expert that goes beyond the issue of what happened on the day that Ms. Corwin was murdered and potentially the relationship with Mr. Jackson beforehand would be irrelevant beyond the scope.”

Before issuing his ruling, Economopoulos noted the record shows Corwin was in a relationship with Jackson, experienced violence by him and responded in conflicting ways by reporting the incident to police and identifying him, while also posting on social media to cover for him at his request or demand, minimizing what occurred and attempting to shield him from scrutiny for actions she knew he committed.

“Educating the jury on general victim behaviors during or after an assault is also relevant, being both material and probative,” said Economopoulos.

Jackson’s trial is set to take place during a three-week period beginning March 2.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.