Desmonte Leonard Takes Stand In His Own Defense
Desmonte Leonard’s defense team began making its case with a surprise witness–Leonard himself. On Friday morning, he took the stand in his own defense.
Leonard is accused of fatally shooting three men, including two former Auburn football players at a 2012 pool party.
Friday morning, the prosecution rested its case in a Lee County courtroom. On the stand, Leonard described what he says happened at the pool party at an Auburn apartment complex in June 2012. He says he got into an argument with a former Auburn football player after the man accused Leonard of staring at him.
Leonard told jurors the fight got physical, with one man hitting his friend with a bottle. He says he was pinned to the ground and feared for his life when he grabbed the gun from his pants and started shooting.
After that, he ran away, sending law enforcement on a 3-day manhunt before he surrendered in Montgomery.
If Leonard is convicted, prosecutors are asking for the death penalty.
