Defense: Auburn Player who was killed at Party Opened Fire
[gtxvideo vid=”OQOfp2wT” playlist=”” pid=”XiOflQdH” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/OQOfp2wT.jpg” vtitle=”Auburn Player Update”]
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (AP) – A defense lawyer says a man charged with killing an Auburn University football player opened fire because the athlete also was shooting a gun during a party.
Attorney Mark Allen Treadwell says 22-year-old Markhale Hart was defending himself when 18-year-old Jakell Mitchell was shot to death during a party in Auburn last month.
Treadwell’s comments came Monday after a judge revoked probation for Hart on a previous burglary conviction.
A prosecution document says Hart admitted killing the player during a party at apartments in Auburn on Dec. 14.
Hart’s lawyer says evidence shows that both Hart and Mitchell were armed, and that both opened fire during an argument.
The defense attorney says police evidence indicates that Hart was trying to get away from Mitchell as the fatal shot was fired.
(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
