Court hears how driver who mowed down nine cyclists took drugs as he drove following an argument

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Charles Pickett from Battle Creek, Michigan, is on trial for murder of five people
Testimony revealed the 52-year-old allegedly took pills before the 2016 crash
Former friend Pamela Barletta said he took the pills after an argument with her
He then crashed into 9 motorists in his pickup truck, killing five people
Closing arguments are Tuesday and Pickett could face life in prison if convicted

By Associated Press and Danielle Zoellner For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:13 EDT, 26 April 2018 | Updated: 10:04 EDT, 27 April 2018

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Testimony has concluded after defense attorneys declined to call any witnesses in the trial of a Michigan motorist accused of running down nine bicyclists, killing five of them.

The defense's move Thursday means 52-year-old Charles Pickett Jr of Battle Creek will not testify during his trial on 14 charges, including five each of second-degree murder and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs causing death.

One testimony from former friend Pamela Barletta alleges Pickett took 'a handful of pills' after a heated argument with her before getting into his pickup truck.

'He just had a handful of pills in his hand and chucked them in his mouth,' Barletta said during her testimony Thursday. 'I said that's real smart Charlie, now you have to drive. And, before I could say anything else, he drove away.'

Charles Pickett, 52, allegedly took multiple pills before he got behind the wheel and mowed over nine cyclists in June 2016

Former friend Pamela Barletta testified against Pickett during his trial Thursday. She said she saw him take the pill before he drove off

Pictured is the pills taken into evidence after the fatal crash. Pickett told investigators after the crash that he took pain pills and muscle relaxers

Pickett arrived at the Roof Inn on June 6, 2016, after returning from a friend's funeral, Barletta said during her testimony.

The pair had a fight about Barletta returning home to her husband to sort out a domestic issue before Pickett quickly left the hotel parking lot.

Surveillance footage caught the man at a gas station nearby where he bought a drink to wash down the pills he took.

He then allegedly plowed into a group of cyclists, killing five and injuring three.

During the trial, Detective Richard Mattison testified that Pickett had been taking methamphetamine for two years as a daily user leading up to the crash, WWMT reported.

At the hospital after the crash, Pickett admitted to investigators that he took pain pills and muscle relaxers prior to driving.

Pickett is accused of driving under the influence of drugs and faces second-degree murder charges for plowing into a group of bicyclists in Cooper Township, Michigan, in June 2016

Melissa Schultz identifies Charles Pickett Jr., as the driver of the blue truck which ran down a group of bicyclists in June 2016, as she testifies during Pickett's murder trial

Forensic pathologist Elizabeth Douglas also delivered a detailed testimony Thursday about three of the people who died during the fatal crash.

Fred Anton Nelson, 73, from Kalamazoo, suffered multiple blunt force trauma injuries to his head an neck. Douglas said he was killed quickly but not instantly.

Melissa Ann Fevig Hughes, 42, from Kalamazoo, also suffered blunt force trauma to the head, neck and trunk area. But she also had lacerations on her internal organs. She died quickly but not instantly, Douglas said.

The third victim mention during the trial was Debra Ann Bradley, 53, from Augusta. She suffered blunt impact to the head and neck and did not die as quickly as the others.

Pickett faces up to life in prison, if convicted.

Prosecutors also ended their case Thursday. They allege Pickett was driving well above the speed limit and didn't apply his brakes until striking the first victim in the 2016 crash near Kalamazoo.

Closing arguments are scheduled Tuesday.

Richard Mattison, a detective with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office who interviewed Charles Pickett Jr. at Borgess Hospital following the crash testifies during Pickett's murder trial