Nouman Raja, second right, and his defense team watch as prospective jurors for his trial enter the courtroom Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Raja, a former Palm Beach Gardens police officer, is charged with shooting and killing stranded motorist Corey Jones on Oct. 18, 2015. He is charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence while armed and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. From left are jury consultant Joseph Guastaferro, attorneys Rick King and Scott Richardson, Raja, and attorney Richard Lubin.(Lannis Waters/Palm Beach Post via AP, Pool)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The prosecution has rested in the trial of a fired Florida police officer charged with the fatal 2015 shooting of a stranded black motorist.
News outlets report the State Attorney’s Office wrapped up its case Monday against former Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Corey Jones. The defense began its case and will continue Tuesday.
Raja was working in plain clothes when he drove his unmarked white van the wrong way up a darkened Interstate 95 onramp. Prosecutors say an audiotape shows the 41-year-old Raja never identified himself as a police officer.
Raja’s attorneys say he did identify himself and shot Jones in self-defense.
Raja is of South Asian descent. He could get a life sentence if convicted of manslaughter and attempted murder.
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