White Man Who Killed Unarmed Black Woman In ‘Self Defense’ On Trial

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) — After two days of jury selection, lawyers are poised to give opening statements in the trial of a Detroit-area man who opened his front door and shot an unarmed woman, killing her.

Theodore Wafer, an airport employee with no criminal record, is charged with second-degree murder. Wafer says he heard pounding at the door and fired his shotgun in self-defense in the death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride last November.

Opening statements are expected Wednesday. The judge and attorneys screened dozens of potential jurors before settling on seven men and seven women, including two alternates. Four are black.

Prospective jurors were asked their views on race. The victim was black, while Wafer is white.

McBride was drunk and had crashed her car a half-mile away, 3 ½ hours before the shooting.

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