Defense attorney Richard Lubin looks at Nouman Raja as he is quizzed by Circuit Judge Joseph Marx Tuesday as to whether he will testify in his trial in West Palm Beach Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Raja, a former Palm Beach Gardens police officer, is charged with shooting and killing stranded motorist Corey Jones Oct. 18, 2015. He is charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence while armed and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.. (Lannis Waters/Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The fate of a fired Florida police officer charged with fatally shooting a stranded black motorist will soon be before a jury.
Closing arguments are scheduled Wednesday in the manslaughter and attempted murder trial of Nouman Raja for the fatal October 2015 shooting of 32-year-old Corey Jones.
Raja was in plain clothes and driving an unmarked white van when he drove the wrong way up a darkened off ramp to Jones’ stalled SUV. Prosecutors say an audio recording shows Raja never identified himself and approached Jones aggressively, making him believe he was being robbed. They say that caused Jones to pull his legally possessed handgun. Raja then shot him repeatedly.
Raja’s attorneys say identified himself and justifiably shot Jones because he feared for his life. If convicted, Raja faces a possible life sentence.
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