Deputy Wyman's Accused Shooter Takes to the Stand
By: Elsa Gillis
Updated: February 6, 2012
Week Two began in the trial for the man charged with killing Deputy Kurt Wyman. Christian Patterson himself took to the stand at the end of the day, but prior to that the prosecution called their final witnesses, who were present at the scene the night Deputy Wyman was killed.
One of those witnesses was Lieutenant Ronald Townsend, a member of the emergency response team. He gave Deputy Wyman and other officials at the scene the following instructions, " No matter what, if ERT moves in towards the garage or into the garage, just stay where they were, not get in front of us, don't follow us just stay where you are. If we enter the garage and are physically struggling and we say I need a Taser, that was the only time that he was to come into the garage."
Unfortunately, Deputy Wyman, who had a Taser, went towards the defendant after hearing "Do it now, do it now", as the so-called less than lethals were shot at Patterson. Townsend says he tried to grab Wyman to stop him, but it was too late.
After the prosecution called their witnesses, Patterson was called to the stand by the defense. He appeared somewhat nervous at the beginning, and a little upset throughout questioning. The defense asked him about his past and his life up until the point of the stand-off. Patterson spoke of his troubled relationship with his son, and tumultuous relationship with girlfriend Shannon Secor. He revealed that he had always wanted to marry her, but she never wanted to do the same.
The defense asked Patterson about his eyesight as well, which Patterson says is poor due to a condition he's had since birth. That's seemingly something that will come up again as the trial continues.
Patterson is expected to take to the stand once again tomorrow morning. He has yet to discuss any of the events that happened the night Deputy Wyman was shot.
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