MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A long-awaited murder trial kicked off Monday afternoon in Mobile County Circuit Court with testimony from a long-time acquaintance of victim Victor Birch, who died in a head-on collision four years ago.
The man and Birch had known each other for years and ran with each other as part of an informal running club known as the Blue Bell Bombers, a name taken from the Blue Bell Creameries warehouse in south Mobile County, close to where the crash occurred. The man testified that he was training for an Ironman competition and that Birch planned to accompany him for part of a planned bicycle training ride on Sept. 25, 2022.
Birch never made it, though, because of the crash that took place at Rangeline Road at the bridge over the Industrial Canal. Jurors listened to numerous 911 calls. The popular postal worker’s death sparked outrage in the community and among his fellow runners…