Kerrick Trial: Prosecutors Question Officer Kerrick
CHARLOTTE, NC — Prosecutors grilled Officer Wes Kerrick to end week two of testimony in the high-profile case.
Prosecutors pushed Officer Kerrick, showing photos of his facial injuries after the shooting compared to ten gunshot wounds on Jonathan Ferrell.
“These two sets of injuries are quite a bit different, right?” questioned Prosecutor Teresea Postell. “Yes, ma’am, they are,” said Kerrick.
Judge Robert Ervin sustained defense attorneys’ objection when Postell replied saying, “A bit much right?”
Kerrick faced the attorneys trying to put him in prison for hours.
“…he was still trying to come toward you even though he was doing a belly crawl on his stomach, right?” asked Postell.
“Yes, ma’am that’s correct,” said Officer Kerrick.
“He was dying wasn’t he?” asked Postell.
Kerrick maintained, “He was still advancing towards me at this time.”
After the last shot, Officer Kerrick told jurors he was able to get out from under Ferrell.
“If you were worried about him getting your gun, you did not drop your magazine so it could not be fired, did you?” said Postell.
“No, ma’am. I didn’t know if he had a weapon on him,” said Officer Kerrick. “Why would I drop my magazine?”
Regardless of the tough questions, WCCB Charlotte Legal Contributor John Snyder says Officer Kerrick taking the stand in his own defense may have helped his case.
“Kerrick’s obviously had to come on, let the jury know who he is, why he did what he did,” said Snyder. “And it will be up to them to decide whether he acted reckless or whether he was trying to protect his life.”
