A Pennsylvania cop charged in the shooting death of an unarmed motorist blamed the victim for making her kill him during testimony in court Wednesday.
Hummelstown Police Officer Lisa Mearkle, 37, fired two fatal shots into the back of 59-year-old David Kassick last February during a traffic stop. Kassick ran from the officer for unknown reasons; she caught up to him and Tasered him four times. After Kassick fell to the snowy ground, Mearkle shot him when she saw him reaching into his jacket pocket.
She believed he was reaching for his gun, she testified Wednesday.
"There was no other reason for him to reach in his freaking jacket," Mearkle said in court.
A weapon was never found on the victim, yet Mearkle still said she believes she was "justified in saving my life that day."
"I was only charged for a political reason," she added. "That's how I feel."
Taser footage played to jurors apparently shows the fatal encounter, but the trial judge ordered the tape not be released to the public until a verdict has been reached. Previously, attorneys for Mearkle attempted to bar the prosecution from ever releasing the evidence.
"I wish he didn't do this," Mearkle said of Kassick. "I didn't want to have to shoot him, but he made me."
Mearkle, who described herself as a "good police officer," was angry with Chief Deputy District Attorney Johnny Baer for charging her with third-degree murder in the first place, Penn Live reported.
"I'm very upset with the district attorney's office," she said.
Mearkle is on unpaid suspension from her department and free on bail. She said she hopes to return to police work after the trial ends.