Case of officer accused of killing black man goes to jury

Officer Randall Kerrick’s defense team has resumed playing a video of an interview with one of three officers on the scene when Jonathan Ferrell was shot to death in September 2013 as police responded to a breaking and entering call.

Dashcam video from Officer Neal’s cruiser was released during the first week of the trial.

“He was going to take my gun from me”, said the emotional Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer as he took the witness stand Thursday in his voluntary manslaughter trial.

The defense took about an hour and a half to make its final argument to the jury.

Last Tuesday Campagna testified that Kerrick exceeded his authority when he shot Ferrell 10 times.

Officer Neal also said Ferrell “looked crazy” and may have been on bath salts or a similar substance.

While the video captured the sound of voices and gunshots, the fatal confrontation between Ferrell and Kerrick occurs off-camera. Because he hit him in the mouth.

Kerrick landed underneath Ferrell in a ditch, where Kerrick said Ferrell continued being aggressive.

Today, the jury heard the closing arguments from both sides.

Monday, a state training expert said Kerrick’s decision to draw and then use his gun complied with state law enforcement training and CMPD directives on the use of lethal force. He said based on all the evidence he examined, the shooting was justified.

He said Kerrick wasn’t required to testify, but he wanted to make sure the jury heard the truth.

Cloutier said yes, adding that once Ferrell “began running toward Officer Kerrick, it would aggravate the situation”. Harris attempted to drive home the point, describing a scene in which the dying Ferrell would have been “lying on the ground being shot, and he swings his hand” to push Kerrick’s gun aside. Was the blood there because Ferrell was climbing up Kerrick when he was shot or was it blood splatter? “Yes, there is a case”, said retired prosecutor Steve Ward.

“But here’s where it differs this officer says he should have reholstered his firearm and fought him”, Laughrun said. Special Deputy Attorney General Adren Harris will start summarizing the state’s case against Kerrick at 9:30 a.m. Defense attorney George Laughrun will follow for 90 minutes or more.

Randall “Wes” Kerrick is accused of shooting and killing unarmed Jonathan Ferrell on September 14, 2013. The woman inside called 911 to report a possible break-in and Kerrick responded with two other officers. A woman told police Ferrell was banging on her front door. One of the officers deployed his Taser, but it was unsuccessful.

“That party was deceased at the time”, Dossett said.

Kerrick is charged with voluntary manslaughter and faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted. He remains suspended without pay from CMPD. The legal limit for driving is 0.08.

In May 2015, the city of Charlotte agreed to pay the young man’s family a $2.25 million settlement over a civil lawsuit in the shooting.

Defense attorney George Laughrun started with a Bible verse, citing the 106th Psalm, and related it to police officers and their work. His attorneys were hired by the Fraternal Order of Police.