COLUMBUS, Ohio — The defense rested its case Tuesday in the Adam Coy murder trial.
The trial for the former Columbus Division of Police officer began Oct. 21 with witness testimony and the state's case followed by the defense. In total, nine witnesses have been called up to the stand — six for the prosecution and three for the defense.
Coy, a 17-year veteran of the police force, is charged with murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault in Andre Hill's death on Dec. 22, 2020.
Defense called former Columbus police SWAT officer and use of force expert James Scanlon to the stand Tuesday.
Scanlon was asked if Coy’s actions were consistent with law enforcement standards. He responded, "I did. I found Coy’s actions completely in line with law enforcement standards."
Coy took the stand in his own defense on Monday, testifying that he fired four times after he spotted what he thought was a silver revolver in Hill's hand while Hill was emerging from a dark garage.
Coy said he rolled over Hill's body, saw a pile of keys and realized there was no gun.
“I knew at that point I made a mistake," Coy told jurors while fighting back tears. "I was horrified. It was the worst night of my life.”
Prosecutors have said Hill had followed the officer’s commands and was never a threat to Coy.
A witness is expected to be called to the stand Wednesday morning with closing arguments happening in the afternoon.
What happened on Dec. 22, 2020?
Coy was called to Oberlin Avenue to investigate a disturbance. He said the complaint was for an SUV that was turning on and off repeatedly for several hours.
Police body camera footage showed Hill emerging from the garage of a friend's house holding up a cellphone in his left hand, his right hand not visible, seconds before he was fatally shot by Coy. About 10 minutes passed before officers at the scene began coming to the aid of Hill, who lay bleeding on the garage floor. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
What happened after Andre Hill's death?
Weeks after the shooting, the mayor forced out the police chief amid a series of high-profile fatal police shootings of Black men and children. Columbus later reached a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family, the largest in city history. Columbus City Council also passed Andre’s Law, which requires police officers to render immediate medical attention to an injured suspect.
Coy had a lengthy history of complaints from residents, with more than three dozen filed against him since he joined the department in 2002, according to his personnel file. A dozen of the complaints were for use of force. All but a few were marked “unfounded” or “not sustained.”
Coy's legal team tried unsuccessfully to have the case moved out of Columbus, citing heavy publicity. A message was left for Collins, the defense lawyer, ahead of the trial.
Hill, a father and grandfather, was remembered for his devotion to family and as a skilled chef and restaurant manager who dreamed of owning his own eatery.