The Latest: Defense says officer’s death wasn’t premeditated

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) - The Latest on the trial of a man charged with fatally shooting a St. Louis County police officer two years ago (all times local):

1 p.m.

Prosecutors say the man on trial in the fatal shooting of a St. Louis County officer had talked about wanting to die in a “suicide by cop” encounter.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the defense for 20-year-old Trenton Forster conceded that his client killed 33-year-old officer Blake Snyder in October 2016 during a disturbance call in the Green Park area. But public defender Stephen Reynolds contended that Forster did not deliberate first, as prosecutors say.

Prosecutors are seeking a first-degree-murder conviction, which would send Forster to prison for life without parole. They decided not to seek the death penalty against Forster, who was wounded by Snyder’s partner.

But Reynolds suggested that the appropriate charge is second-degree murder, which is calculated at 30 years, with the possibility of parole.

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6:40 a.m.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys will make opening statements Monday in the trial of a man charged with fatally shooting a St. Louis County police officer two years ago.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 20-year-old Trenton Forster, of south St. Louis county, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old officer Blake Snyder, of Edwardsville.

Police say Forster killed Snyder in October 2016 as the officer responded to report that Forster was beating on the door of a girl with whom he had a relationship. Snyder’s partner then shot Forster several times. Forster was 18 at the time.

Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in the case. If convicted, Forster will face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com