Jury to Begin Deliberations in Kerrick Trial

In closing arguments Tuesday morning, the prosecution left the jury with the image of Ferrell’s dead body, riddled with ten bullets.

It’s the fifth week of the State versus Kerrick, and the presentation of evidence is over.

Defense attorney George Laughrun presented the jury with a slideshow Tuesday, during closing arguments which combined lasted nearly three hours.

Kerrick, 29, was charged with voluntary manslaughter and placed on unpaid leave from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department the same day as the shooting.

Prosecutors tried to convince jurors that it was obvious Ferrell was not armed and that Kerrick used excessive force when he shot him 10 times.

While dashcam video released at the trial indeed appears to show Ferrell walking toward officers, he quickly begins running toward police as lights hit his chest. Mr Kerrick is currently suspended from the police force without pay.

From the beginning, the case has had racial undertones.

And that statement Mr. Harris read for you about the great Dr. Martin Luther King is an attempt to play the race card and there’s no business for race in this case. Kerrick faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted.

State prosecutors say Ferrell had been injured after wrecking his car and was seeking help at the woman’s house when he was mistaken as a burglar. They say Kerrick opened fire because he feared that Ferrell was going to attack him and take his gun.

Another officer, Jeremiah Dossett testified that after the shooting, he took a police report from Kerrick who said he was assaulted by Ferrell. Typically, she would testify for the state.

“Based on my training, my experience, my education based on the fact that he discharged his firearm comports or is consistent with BLET, the CMPD policy regarding use of force”, said Dave Cloutier. Rossi also said Kerrick’s uniform shirt tested possible for Ferrell’s blood, as did his pants and boots.

Cloutier said Campagna was also his student more than 20 years ago.

Prosecutor Teresa Postell countered by saying the state had met the burden of proof needed to return a conviction.

The defense ended with DNA expert Eve Rossi, who works for CMPD. Was the blood there because Ferrell was climbing up Kerrick when he was shot or was it blood splatter?

Then the defense had its turn and painted a different picture for the jury. He said the DNA could have been transferred by someone else, or possibly come from Ferrell while he was trying to defend himself against the gunshot. He said the case was about split-second decisions.

Ward thinks the most critical piece of evidence for the defense was one of the last witnesses for the defense. “Not Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department regulations but under NC law”. Kerrick’s defense attorney, meanwhile, said in his opening statement that Ferrell became aggressive, pounding his thighs and taunting Kerrick, saying, “Shoot me!” Little says Ferrell walked toward him and said, “Shoot me, shoot me!” after which the officer said he reached for his Taser, pointed it at Ferrell and fired.