National
Closing Arguments Today in Dearborn Heights Porch Shooting Trial
In this April 25, 2014, file photo, Theodore Wafer listens during a motion hearing in Judge Timothy Kenny’s courtroom at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. Jury selection starts Monday, July 21, 2014, in a trial that will put Wafer’s self-defense claim to a tough test. (AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Eric Seals, File)
(Detroit Free-Press) – Closing arguments are expected to begin this morning in the trial of Theodore Wafer, who is charged with fatally shooting Renisha McBride on the porch of his Dearborn Heights home in November.
Wafer, 55, is charged with second-degree murder. The Wayne County jury will be able to consider the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. He is also charged with manslaughter and felony firearm.
Wafer testified this week that he heard loud banging on his doors at about 4:30 a.m. Nov. 2. He said he searched for his cell phone, but was unable to find it and didn’t have a land line.
Wafer said that he went to his front door with his 12-gauge shotgun, opened the door and fired when someone suddenly appeared from the side of his house.
McBride, 19, was shot in the face.
