Defense Brings New Accusations in Wes Kerrick Trial

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 CHARLOTTE, NC — Game-changing accusations in a Mecklenburg County courtroom as the attorneys for a CMPD officer charged with manslaughter started peeling back the layers of their case.  They are trying to counter the narrative that Jonathan Ferrell was simply a car crash victim in need of help.

The defense told the judge Friday that Jonathan Ferrell was trying to break into multiple houses that September, 2013 night.  And that once CMPD officers arrived, to what they were told was a break-in in progress, Ferrell was combative and aggressive.

“The testimony is from Officer Little,” said defense attorney George Laughrun.  “Three statements in the deposition that Jonathan Ferrell said, ‘Shoot me, shoot me.'”

The second target for the defense: get the judge to grant a change of venue.  For nearly an hour, defense attorney Michael Greene argued, saying, “This story’s already been crafted, and I think that’s going to taint the jury.”

Judge Robert Ervin denied the change of venue request.  “I don’t see where you can go to get away from publicity,” he said.

The defense’s third, and perhaps most significant, goal had to do with Ferrell’s blood, and whether there is enough of it left to run more tests for drugs like bath salts, hallucinogens, drugs that could explain why a Taser allegedly didn’t take Ferrell down, and why Kerrick shot him 10 times.

Defense attorney John Snyder, who is not a part of the case, says Friday’s motions are telling.  “What you’re seeing are the appropriate motions to file in a homicide case by any defense lawyer to make sure, no matter what happens, acquittal or not, they’re good when they get to the court of appeals,” he said.

Outside the courtroom Friday, there were less than a dozen protesters.  They promised to show up in the thousands, every day of what’s expected to be more than a five-week trial.

“People are upset,” said protester John Barnett.  “People are calling me from Minnesota.  We’re letting the judge and everyone else know in the courtroom that Jon Ferrell was a young man and blood flowed in his veins like us.”

The next step: the judge is allowing each side to review Grand Jury indictments, which are normally sealed.  The defense says prosecutors targeted Kerrick unfairly by submitting this case twice to two different Grand Juries to get the indictment.  One legal expert says that could be grounds for dismissal.

The defense also asked Judge Ervin to let the jury visit the crime scene during the trial.  Ervin hasn’t decided yet on that request.  He did agree to not refer to Ferrell as “victim”, but says prosecutors can.