PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Latest on the homicide trial of a white Pennsylvania police officer in the shooting of an unarmed black 17-year-old (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
A defense expert says a white former police officer followed proper procedure when he shot and killed an unarmed black teenager during a confrontation outside Pittsburgh last fall.
Clifford W. Jobe Jr., a retired state trooper, testified Thursday at the homicide trial of ex-East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld.
Jobe says he “can’t fault Officer Rosfeld” in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Antwon Rose II, calling the officer’s actions that day “textbook.”
The trial will resume Friday with Jobe back on the stand for cross-examination.
Rosfeld testified he thought a weapon was pointed at him when he opened fire. Prosecutors say Rosfeld gave inconsistent statements about the shooting, including whether he thought Rose had a gun.
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3:55 p.m.
A white former police officer says he thought a weapon was pointed at him when he shot and killed an unarmed black teenager outside Pittsburgh last summer.
Former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld took the stand at his homicide trial Thursday and insisted he was in fear for his life when he shot and killed 17-year-old Antwon Rose II.
Rosfeld fired three bullets into Rose after pulling over a car suspected to have been involved in a drive-by shooting. Rose, a passenger in the car, was shot in the back as he fled. He was unarmed.
Rosfeld says he thought Rose or another passenger had a gun pointed at him, calling them “dangerous felon suspects.”
Rosfeld got choked up and dabbed away tears as he recounted finding the mortally wounded Rose on the ground.
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1:45 p.m.
A white former police officer charged with killing an unarmed black teenager outside Pittsburgh says he plans to take the stand in his own defense.
Former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld shot and killed 17-year-old Antwon Rose after pulling over a car suspected to have been involved in a drive-by shooting. Rose was shot in the back as he fled. Rosfeld says the shooting was justified.
The ex-officer told a judge at his homicide trial Thursday that he plans to testify.
Separately, Judge Alexander Bicket rejected a defense motion to acquit Rosfeld on murder charges. Prosecutors charged Rosfeld with an open count of homicide, meaning the jury can convict Rosfeld of murder or manslaughter. The defense argued a murder charge wasn’t appropriate in the case.
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12:50 p.m.
The lawyer for a white police officer charged with killing an unarmed black teenager is asking the judge for an acquittal on murder charges.
Former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld shot and killed 17-year-old Antwon Rose after pulling over a car suspected to have been involved in a drive-by shooting minutes earlier.
Prosecutors charged Rosfeld with an open count of homicide, meaning the jury has the option of convicting him of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
Defense lawyer Patrick Thomassey asked the judge to clear Rosfeld of murder, saying prosecutors failed to show he acted with malice as required under the law. Thomassey made his motion after prosecutors rested their case.
The judge says he will rule later Thursday.
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This item has been corrected to show that Michael Rosfeld is a former East Pittsburgh police officer, not a former Pittsburgh police officer.
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11:40 a.m.
A firearms analyst has matched one of the bullets recovered from the body of Antwon Rose II body to a gun fired by the white police officer who’s on trial in the teenager’s death.
Raymond Everett works for the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office.
He testified Thursday at the homicide trial of former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld, who fired three bullets into Rose after pulling over a car suspected to have been involved in a drive-by shooting minutes earlier.
The unarmed black 17-year-old had been a passenger in the car.
Rosfeld’s lawyers say the shooting was justified.
Everett told jurors that two guns with extended magazines were recovered from the car.
The prosecution is expected to rest its case shortly.
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10 a.m.
Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case against a white former East Pittsburgh police officer charged in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
Michael Rosfeld’s trial continues Thursday for a third day in a Pittsburgh courtroom.
Rosfeld fired three bullets into 17-year-old Antwon Rose II in June after pulling over an unlicensed taxicab suspected to have been used in a drive-by shooting minutes earlier. Rose was a front-seat passenger in the cab and was shot as he fled.
After prosecutors rest their case, the defense is expected to call an expert witness on the use of deadly force.
In his opening statement earlier this week, defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said the area where the shooting happened is a high-crime area. He told jurors Rosfeld was “a policeman who did his duty.”
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3 a.m.
Prosecutors will call more witnesses to the stand in the trial of a white former East Pittsburgh police officer charged in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
Michael Rosfeld’s trial continues Thursday into its third day in a Pittsburgh courtroom.
The first two days of testimony included compelling statements from witnesses and neighbors, one of whom said he heard Rosfeld panicking, repeatedly saying “I don’t know why I shot him. I don’t know why I fired.”
Rosfeld fired three bullets into 17-year-old Antwon Rose II after pulling over an unlicensed taxicab suspected to have been used in a drive-by shooting minutes earlier. Rose was a front-seat passenger in the cab and was shot as he fled.
The trial is expected to take a week or more.
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