ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on the trial of two former Albuquerque police officers charged in the shooting death of a homeless man (all times local):
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1:30 p.m.
An Albuquerque police officer trained to handle encounters with the mentally ill says he had achieved some progress in negotiations with a homeless man to drop his knives before officers with a tactical unit moved in to replace him.
The testimony from Officer Mikal Monette on Tuesday came as a special prosecutor questioned him about the March 2014 standoff that ended with the fatal shooting of homeless camper James Boyd. Boyd was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez are standing trial on second-degree murder charges in Boyd’s death.
Special prosecutor Randi McGinn has faulted police for their response to Boyd’s illegal campsite, saying a series of fateful decisions escalated the encounter and led to Boyd’s death.
Monette also recalled Boyd went through volatile moodswings after he threatened officers.
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8 a.m.
A prosecutor is expected to begin calling her final witnesses Tuesday in the trial of two former Albuquerque police officers charged in the shooting death of a mentally ill homeless man.
Special Prosecutor Randi McGinn has spent the last week making her case against now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez, who are standing trial on second-degree murder charges.
McGinn has faulted police for escalating the response to James Boyd’s illegal campsite and rushing a botched plan to take him into custody with less-lethal force before shooting him.
Her team also raised questions over the police investigation into the shooting.
Attorneys for Perez and Sandy say they opened fire to protect a K-9 handler who came within 10 feet of Boyd. He was holding two knives.
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