Manslaughter Trial Of Former Garland Police Officer Continues
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DALLAS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - Testimony continues today in the manslaughter trial of a former Garland police officer.
Patrick Tuter is accused of firing 41 shots at Michael Vincent Allen, after a high-speed chase.
It was in 2012 when police chased Allen's pickup down a northeast Dallas freeway and finally cornered him on a Mesquite cul-de-sac.
Tuter opened fire on the truck, reloading at least once. Allen, who was unarmed, was hit three times and died at the scene. The 25-year-old was shot in the back, side and elbow.
Another officer with the Garland Police Department, W.C. Norris, said the shooting was unjustified. In fact, Norris testified that the closest he's come to being shot in his 16-year law enforcement career was when Tuter began shooting at Allen.
Today prosecutors continued trying to make the case that Tuter's actions were reckless. Crime scene evidence was part of the focus of testimony. It included graphic photos of Allen on the ground after he was shot. Members of his family are attending the trial and were in the courtroom during the testimony.
A former crime scene detective also took the stand, reconstructing the path of the shots fired by Tuter. The ex-officer's attorney's objected to the jury seeing several of the photos, arguing that they were inflammatory and irrelevant. The judge overruled.
Much of the testimony today is expected to center on crime scene investigation, but the defense could get the case as early as this afternoon. Tutor's lawyers say their client will likely take the stand to give his side of what happened four years ago.
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