Defense in trial of officer rests its case

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota police officer who fatally shot a black motorist seconds after the man informed him he was carrying a gun “did what he had to do” in a thoroughly justified use of force, a defense attorney argued Monday.

Hours earlier, prosecutors countered that officer Jeronimo Yanez never saw a gun and had plenty of options short of shooting Philando Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker they say was never a threat.

Yanez’s manslaughter trial went to a jury after both sides gave closing arguments in which they recapped their versions of a shooting that drew extra attention because Castile’s girlfriend livestreamed the gruesome aftermath on Facebook.

Yanez’s attorney, Earl Gray, reminded the jury of the officer’s testimony that Castile looked like a man who robbed a convenience store four days earlier. He said Castile disregarded the officer’s orders and reached for his gun because he was stoned on marijuana. And he said Yanez was afraid for his life.

“He pulled out his gun, and he did what he had to do,” Gray said.

Prosecutor Jeff Paulsen highlighted autopsy evidence in his closing argument, reminding the jury of a bullet wound to what would have been Castile’s trigger finger — and that there was no corresponding bullet damage nor wounds in the area of Castile’s right shorts pocket, where he carried his gun. He also cited testimony from first responders of Castile’s gun falling out of his pocket as he was loaded onto a backboard.

Yanez, who is Latino, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and with two lesser counts of endangering the safety of Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her daughter for firing his gun into the car near them.