Jury Deliberates In Trial Of Accused Cop-Killer
DALLAS (AP) – Jurors are deliberating in the trial of a man accused of murdering a Dallas police officer who was trying to serve a warrant.
The Dallas County jury deliberated about 3 1/2 hours Wednesday in the capital murder trial of Charles Payne before recessing for the night. They are scheduled to resume deliberations Thursday morning in the 2009 death of Sr. Cpl. Norm Smith.
Prosecutors have said they'd seek the death penalty should Payne be found guilty of capital murder.
Payne has said that he fired through the door at Smith because he thought robbers were at his apartment door. He testified that when he heard a knock on his door, he heard no one respond to his call. So he grabbed his gun, shot through the door and dialed 911.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
