Defendant In Derrion Albert Case Takes The Stand
Updated 1/11/11 - 4:21 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS/AP) -- One of five young men charged with beating honor student Derrion Albert to death in September 2009 testified Tuesday that he was only defending himself during the brawl that was caught on videotape.
Silvonus Shannon, 20, testified in his own defense Tuesday afternoon, claiming he didn't kick Albert and that he wasn't part of the mob seen beating Albert to death.
Shannon said he only fought back when he was attacked by Albert and others and that he's sorry for what happened.
The video shows people hitting Albert with a wooden board and. In the video, Shannon appears to kick the fallen teen in the head, then jump on him.
Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning after calling only a handful of witnesses in the case against Shannon.
One of those witnesses was a teenager who said he saw Shannon kick and then jump on his head.
Prosecutors also called the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Albert, an honor student at Fenger High School. The pathologist testified that the blows Shannon delivered to Albert contributed to the boy's death.
Four other people have been charged in Albert's death. A juvenile was convicted last year and was awaiting sentencing.
The other defendants were still awaiting trial.
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