New Mexico man convicted in police officer's shooting death

Date:

9/23/2016

Time:

18:18:38

Source:

Foxnews

Content:

LOS LUNAS, N.M. –  A New Mexico man was convicted Friday in the shooting death of a suburban Albuquerque police officer during a chaotic traffic stop. Jurors briefly deliberated before finding Andrew Romero guilty of first-degree murder and a number of other charges in a case that drew national attention amid violence against police and concerns over police shootings. Romero, 29, was charged in the May 2015 death of Rio Rancho Officer Gregg "Nigel" Benner. After the verdicts were read, family and friends of Benner hugged and cried. Romero showed no emotion. The case was moved from Sandoval County 40 miles south to Valencia County because of extensive media coverage. In their closing arguments, prosecutors said Romero was not too high on drugs to know what he was doing. Defense attorneys argued that just because Romeros DNA was on the gun, it didnt prove Romero fired it. Romero faces life without parole. The judge said he plans to sentence Romero in two weeks. During the trial, prosecutors showed jurors video of the frantic moments that followed the Benners shooting and emergency workers efforts to render life-saving aid to him. Law enforcement officers and the widow of Benner watched through tears as the video played on a courtroom screen. The video came from the lapel camera of a Rio Rancho police officer who was called to testify during the first day of the trial. Romeros attorney called into question the honesty of one of the prosecutors key witnesses in the case. Defense attorney Cindy Leos told jurors that Tabitha Littles had lied to authorities during their investigation before taking a plea deal that called for her to testify against Romero during the trial. Authorities say Littles was driving a vehicle pulled over by Benner during a routine traffic stop that preceded his shooting death.

Orignial Link :

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/23/new-mexico-man-convicted-in-police-officer-shooting-death.html?intcmp=latestnews

crawlTime:

9/23/2016 6:08:31 PM