Defense To Start In Trial Of White Man Who Shot Unarmed Black Woman

FILE - In this Dec 18, 2013 file photo, Theodore Wafer, left, listens to his attorneys while appearing at his preliminary examination before District Court Judge David Turfe in Dearborn Heights, Mich. The Detroit-are... FILE - In this Dec 18, 2013 file photo, Theodore Wafer, left, listens to his attorneys while appearing at his preliminary examination before District Court Judge David Turfe in Dearborn Heights, Mich. The Detroit-area man who fatally shot a drunk, unarmed woman on his porch will stand trial for second-degree murder, a judge said Thursday, rejecting a self-defense argument for the killer's "bad choice." (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) MORE LESS
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DETROIT (AP) — The defense is to present its side in the trial of a suburban Detroit man charged in the fatal shooting of a young woman on his porch last fall.

Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday after five days of evidence and testimony against 55-year-old Theodore Wafer of Dearborn Heights. He’s charged with second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride.

Testimony resumes Thursday. Wafer is claiming self-defense.

Defense lawyers have tried to cast the police investigation in a poor light, but Detective Sgt. Steve Gurka has defended his work.

It’s not publicly known whether Wafer will testify. But experts believe it’s necessary if he wants to show jurors that he reasonably acted out of fear last Nov. 2 when McBride was pounding at his door.

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