Justice for Jonathan Ferrell – Kerrick’s Trial – Prosecution Rests
Suspended without pay, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Randall (Wes) Kerrick is on trial for killing unarmed Jonathan Ferrell in September 2013. He is charged with voluntary manslaughter and if convicted, faces up to 11 years in prison.
Captain Mike Campagna
Yesterday, the prosecution rested with a powerful witness. Captain Mike Campagna of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department testified. Captain Campagna formerly handled training for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.
Captain Campagna began his testimony by showing the jury how a taser works and when officers should and should not use it.
Before trial, the information released to the public included that Jonathan was tased and unaffected by it. This led some people to believe that Jonathan was under the influence of an illegal substance. Based on the dash cam video, the truth is now revealed. One officer deployed his taser, but it missed Jonathan. Using the dash cam video freezing the frames, Captain Campagna testified that when Officer Theron Little deployed his taser, that it fired behind Jonathan.
The dash cam video shows that no commands were given to Jonathan while he made his way towards the officers, not even before the taser was engaged.
Randall Kerrick’s mugshot
Captain Campagna testified that with the taser missing the mark, Kerrick did the right thing pulling his gun, which is consistent with their training. However, because Jonathan’s hands were clearly seen, and he was unarmed, Kerrick should have looked for non-lethal options and put his gun away. Campagna said that the threat posed by Ferrell was not what he classified as “aggravated aggression.”
Prosecutor Postel asked: “Captain Campagna, was shooting Jonathan consistent with law enforcement training and CMPD policy?”
Captain Campagna answered: “It was not.”
Posted on 08/12/2015, in Cases, Jonathan Ferrell, Trial Videos and tagged Charlotte, Jonathan Ferrell, Mike Campagna, North Carolina, prosecution rests, Randall Kerrick, trial. Bookmark the permalink. 86 Comments.
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 
They don’t seem to be coddling this guy, but juries are unpredicable and protecting cops seems to still be happening in most places. At least this one is being processed through the legal system. We can be grateful for that much.
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That’s what I’m afraid of Two Sides. Protecting cops.
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Reporters’ tweets during Captain Campagna’s testimony on witness stand:
Amy Cowman @amywccb 20h20 hours ago
Capt. Campagna w @CMPD says policy if officer faced w “active” not “aggravated” aggression is to holster weapon
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 20h20 hours ago
Campagna: Kerrick should have reholstered gun, gone hand-to-hand with Ferrell #KerrickTrial
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 20h20 hours ago
Non-deadly force would have been the highest level of force Kerrick should have used #KerrickTrial
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
“All rise.” Day eight of the #KerrickTrial gets underway.
Defense attorney Michael Greene asks Judge Robert Ervin to allow the jury to visit the shooting scene
Greene specifically wants a nighttime visit
Greene: “We’re not going to be able to determine” Kerrick’s response by a picture
Judge Ervin walked the scene himself. Greene said that’s even more reason for the jury view.
Prosecution objects to the jury view
Special Deputy Attorney General Steven Arbogast: “inaccurate” to say jury can’t get a sense of what happened from a picture.
Arbogast: Ferrell and Kerrick ending up in a ditch “is not the focus of the trial.”
Greene: “We’re not talking about a ditch. We’re talking about the entire scene.”
Greene: “What’s the harm in going down there? Why can’t we go down there?”
Greene says jury view was allowed in Keenan Gay’s trial for the Ed’s Tavern death
Ervin denies defense request for jury view
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Officer Charles Thompson, Jr., takes the stand
Jury sent out of the room as the defense asks Judge Ervin to keep Captain Campagna being in the courtroom
Campagna was the prosecution’s use of force expert, who said Kerrick violated policy
Prosecution plans to call Campagna back as a rebuttal witness. Defense says he’s under a sequestration order.
Judge Ervin asks Campagna “to depart from us.”
Prosecution objects to Thompson’s testimony
Thompson and Kerrick investigated a suspicious vehicle in February 2012
Thompson fired his Taser during the incident. Kerrick’s was out, but wasn’t fired.
Both officers met with Lieutenant Eric Brady afterward
Thompson’s use of force report was reviewed, and both officers were brought in for a “counseling session.”
Thompson: the lieutenant “felt that one should have had his Taser, one should have had his service weapon.”
Kerrick said he was going off training and experience when his gun was out during the Ferrell incident
Prosecution cross-exam says the man who was Tasered turned back on officers, then turned back around with hand under shirt.
Prosecution says CMPD policies considered the 2012 incident as calling for deadly force.
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Kate Gaier @reporter_kate
State points out 2012 incident was considered “deadly force” situation by CMPD policies, officers thought suspect had weapon
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Now on the stand, Lt. Eric Baker, who told Kerrick and Thompson about “going lethal” in 2012 Taser situation
Based on statements that suspect went for waistband, I said one needed to “go lethal” to provide cover
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Lt. Brady @CMPD says told Officer Kerrick in 2012 incident, if fear suspect has weapon taser&lethal should be pulled
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
On cross-exam, prosecution says when Lt. Baker was first questioned, he didn’t recall counseling Kerrick on lethal cover
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 10m10 minutes ago
Gave Lt. Brady the wrong last name. It’s not Baker as I repeatedly tweeted.
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Oh here we go, back to what we’re used to when police tell their story. Sounds like Lt Baker lied for Kerrick today..
Great way to instill trust of police officer’s testimony..
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Jury sent out as both sides spar over allowing an SBI agent who’s not on witness list to testify as a rebuttal witness
The agent interviewed Lt. Baker a little more than a month after the Ferrell shooting
Defense attorney George Laughrun says agent is needed since Lt. Baker testified “I don’t remember” on some questions.
Sharp retort from Laughrun as prosecution offered to show a statement: “I don’t need to the state to show me anything.”
Jurors brought back, but basically only hear that Lt. Baker did not remember interview with Kerrick
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
The parade of police witnesses continues with Officer Kip White, a firearms instructor
For the third time today, the jury is being sent out. This time so Judge Ervin can watch the video of firearms simulator.
Defense says video is 58 minutes long.
Judge Ervin: “Are you serious?”
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Video was created after the Ferrell shooting. Judge Ervin questions validity to Kerrick’s training.
Ervin: “What’s the point” if it’s not relevant to this case?
Ervin: the video is “being offered to prove what?”
Defense: the scenarios and instruction in the video are the same as what Kerrick received
Ervin declines allowing the video to be shown, at least for now.
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“Are you serious?” That would be a correct response. I hope that judge Ervin doesn’t change his mind. What does a firearms simulator have to do with Kerrick killing Jonathan? The defense is trying to train the jury to be law enforcement instead of hearing facts of that night and applying them to law.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 10m10 minutes ago
Gave Lt. Brady the wrong last name. It’s not Baker as I repeatedly tweeted.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Jurors have been brought back after a nearly hour long break
Testimony resumes with firearms instructor Officer Kip White
White is reviewing some of the scenarios officers train under
Training video being shown to jurors, starting with Tasers
Trainer tells officer a suspicious person will come at them. Officer yells “Let me see your hands!”
Remember this is training involving Tasers
The scenario lasts three seconds
Pamela Escobar WBTV @ReporterPam
First scenario on video jury sees is a person runs quickly with a knife at officers.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Next scenario: a motorcyclist coming at officers with a knife during a traffic stop.
Next scenario: an apparent drunk driver with hands in pocket. He says he has a gun.
Driver pulls hand out and points… a finger at officers and says “bang, bang.” Officer fires as hand comes out of pocket.
Trainer tells officer it would be likely considered a justified shooting.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
On prosecution cross-exam, instructor says the CMPD average for unholstering and firing a shot is 1.4 seconds.
The goal is less than a second, he says
Instructor also says “lethal coverage” does not mean an officer needs to have a gun in hand.
Lunch break. Back at 2 p.m.
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I have company coming over. Will check back later. Thanks Yahtzee, for doing a great job keeping us informed of the trial.
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Enjoy your company, Xena 🙂
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Oh, I get it now. Kerrick’s defense is, “My job made me do it.”
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Kerrick doesn’t have a defense except that a big black man was running in my direction & since ALL I have is a gun, bullet proof vest, a tazer, pepper spray, a baton, my two arms, two hands, two legs, physical & tactical self defense training & 5-6 of my fellow gang members with all the same stuff, I had no choice but to shoot to kill this black man cuz y’know, they have super human powers that render us mere white (and just ordinary black) trained police officers helpless as a bunch of 6yr olds in the iron cage with the incredible hulk.
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playing basketball large black men ran at me often and they were on the other side wearing a different uniform, not once did i ever consider even punching them out of fear…….even when i was playing a game at maxwell afb where they have a federal prison and playing against the inmates team.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 52m52 minutes ago
Back from lunch break. Prosecutor says “not much” more questioning of firearms instructor.
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 50m50 minutes ago
Earlier today, defense made clear that Kerrick will testify
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 48m48 minutes ago
Back to questioning when lethal/non-lethal force is allowed under policy
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Mark Becker @MarkBeckerWSOC9
Ofcr White is done. Now up a chemist from CMPD’s crime lab
Chemist shows Det Mike Greene marijuana “roaches” she tested. Don’t know where they’re from
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Testimony returns to forensics with CMPD chemist Ann Charlesworth
Charlesworth analyzes for controlled substances and blood alcohol content
Charlesworth tested ashes and partially smoked cigarettes for controlled substances
And her findings are….
Charlesworth: each one of the “roaches” were positive for the active ingredient in marijuana
“I don’t know whose drugs these are. I only analyze them.”
No one has said where the “roaches” and ashes were found
On cross-exam and redirect, Charlesworth says she was only looking for marijuana.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Charlesworth: each one of the “roaches” were positive for the active ingredient in marijuana
“I don’t know whose drugs these are. I only analyze them.”
No one has said where the “roaches” and ashes were found
Maybe this guy knows:
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I just could not resist posting that cartoon 🙂
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LOL@Yahtzee. So, the defense didn’t present a chain of custody? I thought the ME already testified that there was no marijuana in Jonathan???
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>Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Next on the stand: an accident reconstruction expert
Tyler Black went to the accident scenes a few days after Ferrell’s crash
Black says there was “more than enough evidence” to work with in reconstructing the accident
No skid marks on road or damage to road, where the speed limit was 25 mph
No evidence of braking in the grassy area Ferrell veered into
Indications are the driver (Ferrell) wasn’t paying attention
No physical evidence that would say what was going on inside the car
Ferrell’s car went straight in a curved section of road, ending up in trees
Ferrell’s car was going 38-50 mph when it left the road
The CMPD crash investigator put Ferrell’s speed 41 mph
Range of speeds is based on damage to trees and car’s path
Black created a video reconstruction of the crash
It was not a sharp curve
Lack of brake marks shows “there was no reaction” by driver before going off the road
courtney francisco @cjfranciscowccb
Jurors watching simulation video Black created of Ferrell’s crash
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Overhead of where car went off road
Black wraps up saying the accident was the result of “inattentive or distracted driving.”
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Jonathan might have dropped his cell phone, which is why it was on the floor board of his car and he couldn’t find it.
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Kate Gaier @reporter_kate
Officer Jonathan Cerdan with CMPD DWI task force now on the stand
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
CMPD crash investigator Officer Jonathan Cerdan, who’s also a drug recognition expert, is on the stand.
Cerdan interviewed Ferrell’s co-worker Max Funderburke, who smoked marijuana with Ferrell before his crash
Cerdan is listing the effects of alcohol and marijuana on a person
Pamela Escobar WBTV @ReporterPam
Slide from Ofc Cerdan. He teaches other officers at the academy people’s reactions to alcohol
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
On prosecution cross-exam, Cerdan says he would have to interview someone to gauge how alcohol and marijuana affected them.
During defense redirect, Cerdan says a combination of marijuana and alcohol “makes a difference” in someone’s reaction
Cerdan recalled an incident with a woman with “psycho behavior” who drank and smoked marijuana
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From the Charlotte Observer:
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article30838926.html#storylink=cpy
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Jennifer Stewart with CMPD communications (911) reviews records of calls, including 911 call from Sarah McCartney
McCartney is homeowner whose door Ferrell banged on after his crash
Pamela Escobar WBTV @ReporterPam
Jennifer Stewart is a communications supervisor with CMPD. Communications answers 911 calls.
Blake Hanson @BlakeWSOC9
911 event log reads “subject is yelling at complainant to turn off the alarm”
Supervisor now looking over a transcript of the radio traffic.
Defense now playing the radio traffic from that night.
Dispatch: suspect “kicked in the door be advised their is also a child in the house”
Dispatch audio: “suspect was hit, suspect is down at this time”
Appeared to be some confusion about whether Kerrick was hit or shot in the moments after.
911 dispatcher typed in comments “not in her house anymore” on the notes.
Prosecutions asking supervisor how that incorrect info go on there. Defense simply making point Kerrick got that info.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
On prosecution cross-exam, Stewart is asked why incorrect information that suspect kicked in door went out on radio.
Stewart says prosecution would need to ask dispatcher
In defense redirect, Stewart says dispatchers don’t filter raw information that comes in.
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since the door was not kicked in why on earth would the dispatcher LIE to the officers?
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Bill,
I think the 911 dispatcher became confused during the call.
On page 1 of 22 of the transcript of the call is this exchange:
The on page 5 of 22 is this exchange:
Caller: (inaudible)…he’s in the front yard yelling. Oh, my God…please…Oh my God, I can’t believe I opened the front door, what the fuck is wrong with me?
Operator: You thought it was your husband.
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Wow. The actual transcript showed up instead of just a link to it. My second quote was actually from page 4 (not 5). If you put a for in the box in the bottom border to make it indicate 4 of 22, it will then show page 4.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Husband of homeowner who called 911 now on the stand
Defense attorney George Laughrun lugged the front door to the witness stand
Brian McCartney was at work when this unfolded
Came home to “a lot of police officers and my wife.”
McCartney says he had been considering getting a new door
McCartney says he noticed dents in door when he came home
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Defense is moving faster than expected and the next witness isn’t available. Early end today.
Day eight in the books
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“Kerrick’s attorney says officer to take stand in own defense”
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/kerricks-attorney-says-officer-take-stand-own-defe/nnJdP/
Excerpt:
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
The day starts with Officer Thornell Little, who pulled a Taser on Jonathan Ferrell
Little was one of the three officers who responded to the breaking and entering report that set things into motion
Little pulled a Taser on Ferrell. Kerrick pulled a gun, and later said that’s what he was trained to do.
Little didn’t turn blue lights or sirens on when he received the B&E call. Didn’t want to tip off suspect.
The B&E call was priority one, the highest level
When he pulled up, Little said Kerrick was coming from the home, heard “yelling and screaming” in the distance.
Little’s dash cam wasn’t on, nor were his lights and sirens
The “yelling and screaming” was coming from the direction of the neighborhood pool house
Little drives toward pool house and sees Ferrell, who matched the description of the B&E suspect
Little wasn’t given information on whether suspect was armed
Defense once again putting the jury in the officers’ mindset
Little: this person needed investigating since he matched suspect description
Little: suspect was yelling, “pacing”
Little describes suspect’s behavior as “abnormal” and “odd”
Ferrell was pounding his hands on his legs
Little: “He walks toward me, and I hear him say, ‘shoot me’ twice.”
Little: “It was erratic behavior, and it was unknown what his actions were.”
Little: “I reach for my Taser.”
Little pointed the Taser at Ferrell, gave him command to stop
Little: “He took off running”
Little: “He ran in our direction.”
Little fired his Taser, which missed Ferrell
Little saw Taser dots on Ferrell’s chest
Little: Ferrell was “less than ten feet” away when he fired Taser
Ferrell ran past Little toward Kerrick
Little: “It was full speed, like a bull rush, bum rush kind of run.”
Little: Kerrick yelled, later recalled he said “get on the ground.”
Little: “I saw muzzle flash from Officer Kerrick’s weapon.”
Little: “The subject continued to run, hits Officer Kerrick’s lower legs.” Then lost sight of them.
Little: Ferrell was running at Kerrick as if “he was trying to knock him over.”
Little ran over to the ditch where they ended up, saw Kerrick “holding his chin.”
It was the first time in Little’s then-13 year police career he fired a Taser
Little: “His behavior was erratic and I believe his intent was on injuring officers.”
Little assisted an other officer, not Kerrick, in putting handcuffs on Ferrell after the shooting
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Prosecution begins cross-exam of Little
Back to watching the dash cam from Officer Adam Neal’s cruiser
Prosecution says Ferrell isn’t seen on the dash cam “pounding his legs” as Little testified
Nor is Ferrell heard yelling “shoot me” on the dash cam recording, prosecution says
Little telling Ferrell to “stop” also isn’t heard, prosecution says
“Do you even identify yourself?”
“No.”
“Did you ever ask him any questions?”
“There wasn’t time to.”
Special Deputy Attorney General Adren Harris grilling Little on why he draw Taser when Ferrell was only walking
Little says he saw Kerrick backpedaling before the muzzle flash
Harris asks if he drew his gun or pepper spray after hearing shots fired. Little did not.
Snarky redirect from defense attorney Michael Greene ripping into prosecution’s questions
Greene says just because some things aren’t on dash cam doesn’t mean they didn’t happen
Greene points out Little is not “mic’d up” to Officer Neal’s dash cam recording, the only dash cam recording of incident.
Ferrell could have sat down, gone in another direction
Little: not normal to put on blue lights for priority one call because a suspect could run
An hour and 20 minutes of testimony later, no further questions for Little
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More on Ofc. Little’s testimony:
Mark Becker @MarkBeckerWSOC9
Little testified that he couldn’t hear the sound of his Taeser being fired at Ferrell.
Prosecutor: you didn’t have time to communicate with him but yet you had your time to pull out your taser and use it
Little says he did not render first aid to Ferrell.
Little told the state he only called for paramedics
Steve Crump WBTV @SteveCrumpWBTV
Little says Ferrell ran after seeing red dots from Taeser.
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amazing how willing they are to lie……you can HEAR on the dash cam video, at the time little claims the victim said shoot me twice you CANT hear that because he didnt say it……then the we had no time is silly, they had plenty of time to yell stop police…….and then he used the same lame bs as wilson bull rush or bum rush the video shows RUNNING but not some bull rush or bum rush and why didnt he run at the closest officer if his intent was to harm an officer?
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Excellent question!
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musta been some strategic reason for the officer here to wear regular clothes instead of their uniform?? I thought officers in uniform impress jurors, seem more credible.
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Amy Cowman @amywccb
Defense calls @CMPD Homicide Detective Blair Fitch to stand, did on scene walk thru w Officer Little
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Jury listening to Officer Little’s interview with detectives
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Robin Kanady @RobinFox46
Detective Blair Fitch on stand, conducted walk through intvw w-Little on scene where #ferrell was shot
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Homicide detective David Osorio takes the stand
In audio interview just played for the jury, Officer Little said he would’ve gone for his gun after the Taser missed
But the encounter unfolded too quickly to pull his gun
Prosecution objects to Osorio’s testimony, says he’s “regurgitating what we’ve heard over and over again.”
Amy Cowman @amywccb >/strong>
State objects to defense playing audio of Officer Little interrogation intvw saying is overkill
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Judge overrules state objection allowing defense to play Officer Little intvw video w @CMPD and Det David Osorio
Defense preparing to play police intvw with Officer Little @CMPD after incident, Det Osorio on stand
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Defense was planning to play another interview, but there are computer problems. So they’re switching to plan B.
Officer Adam Neal is being called back to the stand.
Neal is the officer the prosecution called to testify. His dash cam recorded the Ferrell incident.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Neal is being questioned about his statement on how Ferrell and Kerrick were positioned on the ground.
Defense shows medical examiner’s sketch of there possible positions. Neal says that’s how they were positioned.
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Officer Neal testifies this scenario drawing from the Med Examiner is how he saw Ferrell and Kerrick in ditch
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Prosecutor says that’s not what Neal testified last week
It’s a combative cross-exam
Neal says what he’s saying now isn’t 100% the same as what he said last week
Amy Cowman @amywccb
State cross examines Officer Neal saying he changed testimony from last week to today on how he saw #JonathanFerrell and Kerrick in ditch
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My comment is in moderation because I goofed by posting in 3 picture links.
Anyway, here are just the tweets without the photos:
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Neal is being questioned about his statement on how Ferrell and Kerrick were positioned on the ground.
Defense shows medical examiner’s sketch of there possible positions. Neal says that’s how they were positioned.
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Officer Neal testifies this scenario drawing from the Med Examiner is how he saw Ferrell and Kerrick in ditch
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Prosecutor says that’s not what Neal testified last week
It’s a combative cross-exam
Neal says what he’s saying now isn’t 100% the same as what he said last week
Amy Cowman @amywccb
State cross examines Officer Neal saying he changed testimony from last week to today on how he saw #JonathanFerrell and Kerrick in ditch
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this will be a not guilty verdict because the police are willing to lie on the stand pure and simple……very hard to get beyond a reasonable doubt when people are LYING on the stand.
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Please forgive me. I’m just now having time to sign-in and started with the most recent comments working my way up when I saw your comment about having one in moderation. I’ve approved it.
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Not sure what to make of this I tend to agree with Bill Taylor when officers lie on the stand and we know they do to protect their own, it makes it very difficult for a Jury they know that which is why they do that.
praying that this jury has some sense about them and gets this verdict correct which should be Guilty
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
We’re having the technological equivalent of a rain delay
And we’re back
Jury is about to watch Officer Little’s video interview the morning of Ferrell’s shooting
After a half hour of stops and starts, the video is just about ready to play and Judge Ervin decides it’s lunchtime.
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Defense about to play Officer Little intvw video @CMPD HQ after incident
As defense prepares to play Officer Little intvw video with @CMPD , judge calls lunch recess until 2p
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Amy Cowman @amywccb
Defense present police intvw video @CMPD HQ w Officer Little after incident
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Back from lunch and computer is cooperating for attorneys. Jury watching Little’s interview.
Detective tells Little “you’re not in trouble.”
While Little is being interviewed, Officer Kerrick is waiting in another room at police HQ to meet with detectives.
Little tells detectives Ferrell said “shoot me! shoot me!” as he walked toward Little
“Seemed like he was high or something.”
Little: before that, Ferrell was going around in circles, acting excited
Little tells detectives Kerrick’s gunfire was “rapid, like 4-6 shots.”
Little: “Kerrick was giving commands” but he “couldn’t hear what he was saying.”
Little describes Ferrell’s pace and posture as if he were trying to “tackle” Kerrick
Blake Hanson @BlakeWSOC9
After Officer Little testifies, now showing a videotaped interview with him from day of shooting.
Officer Little: “he started to walk towards me and he said ‘shoot me’ ‘shoot me'”
Little: “Kerrick fell backwards and the guy was leaning forward” #kerricktrial
Little: “[ferrell] was just running towards him like he was trying to tackle him.”
In video, Little seems to say Ferrell fell forward and laid dead, doesn’t mention crawling or grabbing for gun.
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From video of investigators’ interview with Ofc. Little:
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Little tells detectives it appeared Ferrell “fell forward” onto Kerrick’s legs
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************************************
Blake Hanson @BlakeWSOC9
BREAKING: Defense calls Kerrick to testify. ”
************************************
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Here we go. Randall Kerrick takes the stand
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Blake Hanson @BlakeWSOC9
Kerrick says he started working at age 15 to help support his family.
Kerrick getting emotional as he is asked to talk about his wife and family.
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick faces jury as he answers defense attorney Michael Greene’s questions
Kerrick says his career goal was to become a police officer.
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Officer #WesKerrick gets emotional already on stand when asked about his wife and child
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick still emotional as he answers yes/no questions about his training
Blake Hanson @BlakeWSOC9
Kerrick’s voice shaky, still emotional as he talks about his background.
Kerrick answering questions about training and use of deadly force.
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Defense asking about working @CMPD Animal Control to get accept to Police Academy since didn’t get college degree
Defense shows #WesKerrick field sobriety test certificate
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick’s training included a course in crisis intervention
Kerrick describes uniform and service belt for jury
Defense asks about the dash cam
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Cleve R. Wootson Jr. @CleveWootson
We’ve posted video of Officer Kerrick’s testimony.
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Wrong link was tweeted for video of Ofc. Derrick’s testimony.
Here is the correct link:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article30987669.html
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Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial: Kerrick on stand; Defense atty about to unwrap exhibits @WBTV_News
Kerrick said he worked four 10-hour days; 3rd shift at Hickory Grove Division
Kerrick is talking about his training; said he didn’t have to go thru remedial training
Kerrick recalling the incident when he & another officer both drew their tasers and were counseled
Kerrick said he never received a citizen’s complaint; has received commendations.
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
“Have you ever been reprimanded by CMPD?”
“No, sir.”
Kerrick recounts his 2012 Taser incident, and being “counseled” afterward about Taser use
Kerrick said he was “counseled” to have a gun drawn as backup if another officer had a Taser out
Lieutenant advised Kerrick to be ready with lethal force
Defense shows Kerrick commendations he’s received
Commendations were for his work on robbery investigations, including one involving a weapon, and the DNC.
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Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV 2m2 minutes ago
#KerrickTrial: jury seeing commendation Kerrick received for a robbery investigation @WBTV_News
defense pointing out that in some of Kerrick’s robbery cases, the suspects had guns.
defense atty having Kerrick demonstrate what he wears w/his uniform
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Defense asks about firearms simulation training
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
Kerrick says he’s had training on the firearms training simulator; different scenarios
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT 3m3 minutes ago
Judge Ervin calls for a break before the defense gets to questions about the Ferrell shooting
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Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
says he’s familiar w/CMPD’s use of force continuum
Judge calls recess
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Back from break with defense asking Kerrick about the night of the Ferrell shooting
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial: Defense asking about Sept 13, 2014. He arrived at roll call 8:15p @WBTV_News
Kerrick looking at off duty sheet he filled out/gave; said he worked off duty 9/12
Kerrick said he was rested before his shift 9/13; did not drink any alcohol;
Jonathan Ferrell was shot/killed early morning hours of 9/14/13
Kerrick explaining priority one call for service
defense asking about the priority 1 call that came early morning hours of 9/14; Kerrick said it was a b/e
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick recalls a priority one breaking and entering in the Bradfield Farms neighborhood
Kerrick added himself to the call because there had been a report of a person kicking in the door
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
Kerrick says added himself to the call b/c it was a priority 1 and homeowner was home
he had his blue lights & sirens so he could get 2 residence as soon as he could; turned it off 1/4 mile before
dash cam activates when Emerg equiptment are on
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick ran lights and sirens to the call
Turned them off about 1/4 mile from home so as to not tip off suspect
Kerrick turned off dash cam when he turned off lights and siren
Kerrick: I didn’t want to waste recording space
Kerrick: leaving dash cam on at B&E would have recorded “a lot of nothing.”
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Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial: jury seeing photo of call screen from police cruiser @WBTV_News
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Prior to arriving at B&E report, Kerrick received description of suspect
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
says dispatcher never confirmed if suspect was armed
when he pulled up it was very dark; no lights on the house; thought it was odd
Kerrick said as he exited car, heard loud noise, grunting
he saw Ofr Little and told him they should check out the noise; never talked to home owner
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick: as I got out of the cruiser, I heard loud grunting from the pool house area
Kerrick: I heard loud screaming and thought two people were arguing
Kerrick told Officer Little, who had just arrived, “we should go check it out.”
Kerrick: the house appeared to be secured, but I knew there was something going on down the pool road
Kerrick: “felt it was necessary to go check out” screaming from pool house area
Kerrick: it could have been the suspect or the suspect with the 911 caller
Kerrick went to back up Officer Little, who had left to check out the screaming
Kerrick then saw someone matching the description of the B&E suspect
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Dispatched had not confirmed if suspect was armed
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Kerrick says followed Officer Little towards pool house, didn’t want him left alone to handle suspect
Officer #Weskerrick says had no idea if suspect #JonathanFerrell was armed or not when encountered him
#Weskerrick says he has no reason not to believe #JonathanFerrell was suspect in B&E he was called to
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Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial: Kerrick pauses as he describes suspect walking towards them; he stops talking. @WBTV_News
Kerrick says he didn’t see any other vehicles; believed person was suspect described in b/e
Kerrick says he saw suspect matching description of b/e suspect ; no wrecked vehicles
Kerrick said he didn’t hear suspect say anything; not help; didn’t put his hands up
says he didn’t hear suspect say anything to him; didn’t see him put his hands to eyes as if can’t see
Kerrick stepping down to demonstrate to jury again
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick becomes emotional again as he recalls Ferrell going toward Officer Little
Using map to point out where he and Officer Little were positioned
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
he’s pointing out where he to Ofr Little; & when he saw the suspect
kerrick back on stand; describing his police vehicle
defense showing Kerrick pictures of cruiser at night-time; Kerrick verbally identifying for the jury
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Amy Cowman @amywccb
Defense shows picture of #Weskerrick patrol car where see Police on side illuminated, Kerrick on stand
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick says that night was the first time he say Officer Little, a veteran, draw his Taser.
That fed into Kerrick perceiving a threat
“Based on my training and experience, because Little has Taser on, and suspect matched B&E description, I drew weapon.
“Is that how you were trained?”
“Yes sir, it is.”
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Kerrick: “Fact that Officer Little fired taser told me there was threat, Little never fired taser or gun in 13 yrs”
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick: Ferrell was coming at Officer Little “at a fast pace.”
Couldn’t tell if he was armed
Kerrick didn’t see how Officer Little could miss with his Taser
No “verbal confirmation” he was unarmed
Amy Cowman @amywccb
Kerrick says if taser had worked he would have holstered his weapon and had 5 seconds to handcuff
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
“After the Taser was deployed, I yelled ‘stop!'” Ferrell then focused on me.
“The suspect began aggressively coming towards me.”
“At first it was a pretty rapid pace, like a fast walk.”
“He began to charge at a much faster pace.”
“I gave loud verbal commands to stop, get on the ground.”
Kerrick was then backpedaling to put space between him and Ferrell
Demonstrates how loudly he yelled “get on the ground!”
Ferrell said nothing as he was charging toward Kerrick
“What did you interpret his body language to mean?”
“He was going to attack me.”
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial: said he interpretated suspect body language to be mean he was going to attack me @WBTV_News
crying; says he thought suspect was going to assault him; take his gun from him; concerned for his safety
saw suspect reach for waist band when he was in 5 ft of him
didnt know what suspect had; doesn’t think he should have holstered his weapon; suspect ran thru taser
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Fired when Ferrell was within 3-5 feet.
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
he thought he first fired bet 4-6 shots; some point they made physical contact; he fell
suspect was on top of him; it was dark in the ditch; he was on his back; used left hand to prop himself
Kerrick on the ground demonstrating for the jury how he was on the ground
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
“Did you bite your lip” when you fell?
“No sir”
Kerrick gets on courtroom floor and demonstrates how he was on the ground with Ferrell
Nothing I was doing was getting him to stop. He was still trying to advance towards me, despite firing shots.
Yelled “don’t move!” once I broke free of him
“I thought I was going to die.”
“Nothing I would do would stop him.”
“He was doing everything he could to get to where my gun was at.”
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
fired his weapon; he couldn’t get suspect off him; finally got free; didn’t fire any more shots
says suspect was swimming at him; swinging his arms; one point suspect struck him; felt a jerk on the gun,
Kerrick says he believed he was going to die; “nothing I would do would stop him.”
kerrick crying, visibly upset watching sketch of Ferrell on him
crying he says suspect was bigger then he; he kept firing his weapon b/c suspect wouldn’t stop
still didn’t know if suspect war armed; he didn’t handcuff him after shooting
suspect never tried to run the other direction; he didn’t shoot him the back
one he got out from suspect he never touched him
after shooting his mouth was bleeding; was hurting elsewhere; left arm had scrapes
says gun never recoiled and hit him in the mouth
Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
After incident Kerrick’s head and mouth hurt. Medic checked on scrapes on his arm.
Did the gun recoil and hit you in the mouth?
“Absolutely not.”
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well which officer is lying? they BOTH were right there, one says the victim said NOTHING, the other claims he said shoot me twice……and the shooters description of thing does NOT match the video he clearly says he was walking towards me then accelerated into a fast run, the video shows the victim, was walking towards the lights then saw the red dots on his chest and then started running, clearly veering to his left right on by the officer with the taser…..BUT it is at this time the shooter claims he slowed to a walk(didnt say that but did say he walked towards ME which he wasnt doing on the video) then sped up to a full charge……..there was not time for that to happen the yelling and shooting happened about 2 SECONDS after the victim ran out of the video….and this stuff of he feared for his life and was afraid the guy was going to try to take his gun is 100% nonsense……he had the gun and shot the guy simple FACT, the guy never got close enough to touch him, and his first volley of shots had a shot that would be fatal without immediate medical care within ONE MINUTE, to claim after the first volley of shots the victim was still fighting is again utter nonsense, he FELL to the ground with fatal wounds and the officer had fallen in front of the victim that is likely when the officer hurt his own mouth as he fell either from biting his own lip or having his gun hit himself as he fell…….we citizens have no hope, the police can make up any wild story they desire even when video shows it cant be true.
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Remember the video of Rodney King? The officers still walked. I think one or two were eventually tried on federal charges and convicted.
Let’s hope that the jury is able to stand in Jonathan’s shoes, realize the inconsistencies in testimony, and return a verdict of guilty.
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Jury seeing cuts inside Kerrick’s mouth
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMUSo-bWIAAW7zB.jpg
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Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial; left arm bruise hours laters @WBTV_News
says he did not have those bruises on arms or lip before he went on duty
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Chris Miller @ChrisMillerWBT
Kerrick went to police HQ for interview “because I didn’t think I did anything wrong.”
Reviewing photos of Kerrick’s uniform after the shooting
The uniform has mud and grass stains
Coleen Harry WBTV @ColeenHarryWBTV
#KerrickTrial: Kerrick says he thought he fired 4-6 shots; now knows how many he fired @WBTV_News
says he could have waited to give a statement but he didn’t b/c he didn’t think he did anything wrong
Kerrick describing shrimping; moving hips left to right trying to create distance
defense showing Kerrick a photo of his duty belt
Kerrick still looking at photos/defense exhibits of what he looked like hours after
his duty belt; said he did not have any stains on it prior
photos of him in uniform after the shooting;
judge calls it for the day; jury back tomorrow 9:30a
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I want to thank all of the reporters who have been tweeting out and keeping us informed about the Kerrick trial.
Thanks so much! 🙂
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Yahtzee, I want to thank you for following the reporters and your commitment to keeping us informed. You are amazing.
No matter what the jury decides, Jonathan deserves to have the trial of his killer reported. His life mattered.
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Yes, indeed, Xena.
Jonathan’s life mattered. He enriched the lives of those around him.
At a rally recently, Jonathan’s mother spoke about him:
Rest in peace, Jonathan. You were a blessing to your family and those whose lives you touched.
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AMEN!
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Here are clips of Kerrick’s testimony provided by The Charlotte Observer:
“Officer Kerrick describes moments before shooting” –>
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“Randall Kerrick describes shooting Jonathan Ferrell” —>
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can a citizen when they see an officer walking towards them make the claim the guy had a GUN and a very aggressive look on his face so when he got within 10 feet of me i shot him and get away with it?
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Bill, isn’t that what stand your ground is? You can shoot someone for not liking the way they look. Only, I don’t think that goes for citizens when seeing people in uniform.
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