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Trial to resume for man charged in officer's death


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Officer Jonathan Schmidt was shot and killed during a traffic stop (KAIT)
Officer Jonathan Schmidt was shot and killed during a traffic stop (KAIT)
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Updated: 7/23/2012 8:00 am Published: 7/23/2012 7:59 am

PARAGOULD, Ark. (AP) — Testimony is to resume in Paragould the trial of a Trumann man charged in the shooting death of a Trumann police officer.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for 38-year-old Jerry Lard in the April 2011 shooting death of officer Jonathan Schmidt after a traffic stop made by Schmidt of a car in which Lard was a passenger.

Defense attorneys say Lard suffered a mental disease or defect due to childhood abuse and drug use.

Testimony is to resume Monday in Paragould. The trial was moved to Greene County from Poinsett County at the defense's request.

Lard also faces charges of attempted capital murder for shooting at another Trumann police officer who was at the scene and with possession of methamphetamine.

 

©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FOX16 - Breaking News and Weather to Plan Your Day for Little Rock and Central Arkansas

itsjustme - 7/23/2012 12:17 PM
1 Vote
Shouldve shot him that same day.

ender929 - 7/23/2012 11:14 AM
1 Vote
That's lawyer-speak for the evidence is overwhelming and incontrovertible, the victim was completely innocent, and the circumstances couldn't possibly justify his actions. Its further complicated by the fact no one wants to him a plea bargain, and it a capital murder case. His only defense is to find a jury "sympathetic" enough to buy his defense and spare him the death penalty.

ArkansasYankee - 7/23/2012 9:24 AM
2 Votes
Mental disease or defect due to child abuse and drug use? Didn't get his butt whipped enough if you ask me; and as for drug use, that's a personal choice he made. No defense if you ask most.
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