Trial beginning in Spokane stolen car shooting

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - The trial is beginning this week in Spokane for a man accused of killing a man who was taking his SUV.

Gail Gerlach is charged with manslaughter in the March 2013 shooting of 25-year-old Brendan Kaluza-Graham.

Gerlach says he fired when he thought he saw a gun. Police found no gun in the vehicle. Prosecutors say the shooting was not justified because there was no imminent threat.

KXLY reports (https://bit.ly/1gH6JZp ) the judge will hear motions Monday on whether the jury will hear from a self-defense expert. The defense wants to take the jury to the shooting scene and inspect the SUV.

If convicted, the 57-year-old Gerlach faces 8-to-10 years in prison.

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Information from: KXLY-TV, https://www.kxly.com/