Coal Tattoo

Blanchard expected back on stand tomorrow

Blanchard2

Former Performance Coal Co. President Chris Blanchard, left, leaves the federal courthouse on Thursday afternoon. Photo by Ken Ward Jr.

When the criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship closed for the day this afternoon, the man who ran the Upper Big Branch Mine for Blankenship was still on the stand (see here and here for earlier posts on his appearance)  — and former Performance Coal Co. President Chris Blanchard is expected to resume his testimony when court starts up again at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby questioned Blanchard for about three hours Thursday afternoon, focusing later in the day on asking Blanchard about a series of handwritten Blankenship notes that show the great level of detail with which the former CEO monitored events at Upper Big Branch.

“He was a micro-manager,” Blanchard told the jury.