Posted on 10/29/2010 8:07:06 AM PDT by knittnmom
MADISON, Wis. -- An Iraq war veteran on trial in a 2009 homicide took the stand Thursday in his own defense.
Perry Lucas, 29, is accused of killing Detarius Martin, 23, after a fight at a Fitchburg apartment in June 2009. Lucas is charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
Even before taking the stand Thursday, emotions overwhelmed Lucas as he wept in the courtroom.
"I wish this never happened," Lucas said.
Eventually, he told his version of what happened in June 2009. He said he was acting in self-defense.
"Basically, I was trying to scare them because I was scared," said Lucas during the fourth day of trial.
He explained that his ex-girlfriend had just found him with another woman in the apartment the two still shared. Lucas said he felt threatened when his ex returned with neighbors -- Detarius Martin and his brother, Chukarius.
Lucas said when he told the men to leave, they didn't. He said he thought a gun would scare them into leaving.
"Because I wasn't getting through to them. They were on some sort of a mission; they were in beast mode. I was really frightened at the time. The fear is consuming me because I thought they were going to kill me," Lucas said of Detarius Martin and Chukarius Martin.
When the Martin brothers didn't leave, Lucas said he grabbed a handgun and headed for the hallway, where he says Chukarius wasn't backing down.
"Since he (Chukarius) told me he's an Iraq/Afghanistan vet, and I'm thinking when he's crouching down like that, that I'm like, 'Are you trying to take my weapon?' Lucas said.
Lucas fired five shots, which he calls warning shots. Two hit Detarius, killing him, and one hit and wounded Chukarius.
Prosecutor Michael Finley argued there were other options available to Lucas to remove himself from the threat other than firing the fatal shots. Finley questioned Lucas about the shooting scene:
Lucas: "I wasn't trying to point it at them." Finley: "A five-foot hallway. Right?" Lucas: "Yeah and that's what made it more scary." Finley: "If these guys are the only, they're right there." Lucas: "Yeah." Finley: "And you're pointing, firing a gun right there." Lucus: "Ah huh." Finley: "You didn't think that was dangerous?" Lucas: "I thought me dying was dangerous too."
Closing statements are set for Friday, and the case could go to the jury by the afternoon.
I don’t care if he is an Iraq war veteran, it all sounds rather trashy to me.
Every time I think I've heard them all another one comes along.
Why do people stigmatize their kids with made up names which just scream "stupid"??
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