Deliberations begin in NJ cop's trial
Prosecutors presented their closing arguments Thursday in the manslaughter trial of a New Jersey parks police officer charged in the shooting death of a Native-American man from Monroe. Officer Chad
News 12 Staff
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May 27, 2014, 9:42 PM
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Updated 3,615 days ago
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Prosecutors presented their closing arguments Thursday in the manslaughter trial of a New Jersey parks police officer charged in the shooting death of a Native-American man from Monroe.
Officer Chad Walder is accused of shooting Emil Mann after an argument in Ringwood State Park in April 2006. Prosecutors argue Walder intentionally opened fire on the unarmed man.
"Chad Walder made a decision," says Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor James Santulli. "He made a decision to shoot, and it was the wrong decision."
However, defense attorney Bob Galantucci says the victim attacked Walder first and even reached for his weapon.
"Emil didn't stop, he didn't comply at all," Galantucci says. "He was fixated on the gun, he kept coming for the gun."
The jury is expected to deliberate Walder's case through next week. If convicted, Walder faces 10 years behind bars.
