Olympic hopeful to face trial after alleged killing of Uber driver

Former shot-put athlete Khayla Dawson is accused of killing her Uber driver in an October incident and pleaded not guilty; a judge ruled there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

Khayla Dawson, a former Olympic hopeful who competed in shot put at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, is at the center of a homicide case that a judge has allowed to proceed to trial. The incident, reported in October, involved Dawson and an Uber driver, Jeremy Campbell. Dawson has said she acted in self-defense, reporting that the driver assaulted her; prosecutors dispute that account and have presented other evidence. Dawson pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. Key details: - Prosecutors allege Dawson killed the driver and later left the vehicle, and they have pointed to evidence they say shows planning, including that she brought a knife and wore gloves while in the car, as reported. - A police detective testified that the driver was partially paralyzed on his right side, and prosecutors say that fact makes Dawson's account of being attacked less plausible. - A judge found there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial; the trial date has not been announced. Summary: The judge's decision means the disputed facts will be weighed at trial rather than dismissed at the preliminary stage. The case includes competing accounts from the defense and prosecutors and references to the victim's medical condition and Dawson's mental health history. Trial scheduling is undetermined at this time.