Self-defense expert to testify in Drejka trial (with clip)
Aug 13 2019
"LARGO, Fla. (FOX 13) - In less than one week, Michael Drejka's manslaughter trial will be well underway. ...
Tuesday, attorneys on both sides were in front of a judge to set rules for the trial.
The surveillance video of that shooting has been seen and talked about across the globe – but it's what expert witnesses will be able to say in front of the jury that was debated in court.
Six of 10 jurors will decided whether Michael Drejka will be convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton.
They judge will allow jurors to watch surveillance video, parts in slow motion, of McGlockton pushing Drejka to the ground in a dispute over a handicapped parking spot and Drejka pulling a hand gun, firing, and killing him.
"We can't call people to say, ‘you saw the video what do you think?'" State Attorney Fred Schaub said.
In a hearing to lay ground rules for next week's trial prosecutors took issue with a witness Drejka's defense attorney's will have testify....
Drejka's defense is calling a self-defense expert. They want the former Marine, who now owns a security services company, to explain what they say is the self-defense nature of the shooting.
"I believe he is qualified to say that, based on his training and experience," Jean-Pierre Coy said.
But Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone sided with the state and will only allow the witness to testify in broad, general terms, which means the jury will not hear the expert's opinion or analysis of the video...."
Self-defense expert to testify in Drejka trial