Jury Deliberating In Cop Murder Case
An Oakland County jury resumed deliberations, Thursday, in the trial of a teenager accused in the 2008 shooting death of an Oak Park police officer.
The panel of four men and eight women will determine the fate of 18-year old Jonathan Belton.
In recounting testimony from the five-week trial, the prosecution reminded jurors that a firearms expert and a medical examiner said the shooting of officer Mason Samborski was done by another person.
The defense suggested the officer shot himself by accident as he struggled with the defendant, who was just 16 at the time.
Defense attorney Geoffry Feiger said there's a lack of evidence, and the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In his closing arguments, Feiger said he took Belton's case pro bono because he believes his client is being victimized by a racist criminal justice system.
WWJ and Fox 2 legal analyst Charlie Langton was in the courtroom, and says the jury has a lot consider behind closed doors.
"The gun, in this case, was never found. So, that's gonna be an issue. There was a broken glass -- somebody threw somebody through a broken glass window in the hallway.... and the forensic evidence is very important. Also, there was a cell phone that was used, reportedly, after the murder. There were photos after the murder," Langton said.
If convicted, Belton faces the possibility of life in prison.
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