UPDATE:
The driver charged with killing a man last year in Little Rock after the two became embroiled in a road-rage altercation took the stand in his own defense Thursday, telling jurors he opened fire only after the man came toward him despite his pleas for the man to leave.
Chris Schnarr, 29, is on trial in Pulaski County Circuit Court after being charged with first-degree murder in the May 11, 2013, shooting death of 45-year-old Arista "AJ" Aldridge.
Schnarr, the second defense witness to take the stand, said the altercation started when a GMC Jimmy driven by Aldridge went through a yield sign at an Interstate 30 offramp north of Sixth Street, forcing Schnarr's Jeep Laredo to swerve around him to avoid a collision.
The two exchanged words, Schnarr testified, before Schnarr turned to go west on Sixth Street. He said the GMC then sped past him and cut him off at an angle, forcing him to stop in the roadway.
"I wasn't trying to escalate the situation," Schnarr said, though he acknowledged retrieving his loaded gun from under the seat as Aldridge drove past him. "I didn't know what he was going to do. I was scared at the time. I just wanted him to leave."
Schnarr said Aldridge got out of his vehicle and approached Schnarr's Jeep, at one point waving his finger in Schnarr's face and striking him with it. Aldridge backed off, Schnarr testified, but then turned around and started to come back.
"I said 'leave, man, please just leave.' And he kept coming. So I fired two shots rapidly," Schnarr said.
One of the shots hit Aldridge. He staggered, regained his balance and then took another step toward the Jeep, Schnarr said, and he shot one more time.
While being questioned by his own attorney, Jeff Rosenzweig, Schnarr said he was "in fear that [Aldridge] might kill" him or cause serious injury.
Arkansas law does not allow the use of deadly force if the person can instead retreat with "complete safety." Schnarr told Rosenzweig he did not think that was an option.
"Not with complete safety," he said. "[Aldridge] chased me down once with his car and blocked me in. If I could have retreated, I didn't know if he would do it again."
The defense later rested its case.
EARLIER:
The prosecution has rested in the trial of a man accused of fatally shooting another man after a road-rage altercation between them last year in Little Rock.
The defense is expected to begin its case Thursday afternoon in the trial of 29-year-old Chris Schnarr, who faces a charge of first-degree murder in the May 11, 2013, shooting.
Earlier Thursday, jurors heard emotional testimony from a woman who was a passenger in the car with the victim before he was shot.
Alice Bryant, the mother of Arista "AJ" Aldridge's child, took the stand on the second day of Schnarr's trial before Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Leon Johnson.
Bryant testified she, Aldridge and their 5-year-old son were driving after visiting the Little Rock farmers market when Schnarr's vehicle cut them off as it was coming off Interstate 30. Schnarr's lawyer says it was actually Aldridge who ran a stop sign.
In a voice frequently wavering with emotion and at times pausing to wipe tears from her eyes, Bryant described Aldridge driving in front of Schnarr's Jeep Laredo on Sixth Street, stopping and then getting out despite her pleas for him not to leave their vehicle.
"I remember saying to AJ, 'Honey, it's OK, It's OK, honey. It's OK. Please don't get out."
Bryant said Aldridge and Schnarr were exchanging words. She said Aldridge had approached and was just outside Schnarr's vehicle when she heard two shots and saw Aldridge take a step back.
"And I hear a POW," Bryant said through tears. "And this time [Aldridge] is staggering. His eyes still look like he's staring. He fell facedown."
Deputy prosecutor Kelly Ward asked if Aldridge was moving; he wasn't, Bryant said.
"Oh my god," she repeated five times, describing her frame of mind at the time. "My goal was for everybody to be calm. Thoughts are racing through my head. My son, he screamed ... at some point he screamed, 'The bad guy shot my dad.'"
Schnarr is expected to take the stand after the defense begins its case later Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Jeff Rosenzweig, on Wednesday suggested to the jury that Aldridge was the aggressor who chased Schnarr's vehicle down, blocked it in, struck Schnarr with his finger and didn't heed warnings to leave before the shots were fired.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.