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Jury Deliberating Fate Of Former Dallas Officer Christopher Hess In Deadly Shooting

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Dallas County jury began deliberations Tuesday in the shooting death trial of former Dallas Police Officer Christopher Hess.

Jurors must decide whether or not Hess is guilty of criminal conduct during the deadly shooting of Genevive Dawes in 2017.

Christopher Hess
Christopher Hess - former Dallas Police Officer (CBS 11)

Hess fire 12 times at 21-year-old woman.

The state has charged Hess with aggravated assault and the evidence used against him was body cam video of the shooting.

Dawes was in a stolen car, backing out and trying to get away from officers.

Hess was the only officer to fire multiple times at the car.

He did not take the witness stand in his own defense.

The argument before jurors was if Hess' decision to shoot was justified or illegal.

"Your verdict of guilty is sending a message that this conduct would not be accepted in our society, and he needs to held responsible for his actions," said prosecutor George Lewis during closing arguments.

"Officer Hess was exemplary that night. He remembered what was important. He values human life. He made the only choice available to him," defense attorney Messina Madson told the jury.

 

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