Closing arguments are expected Tuesday in the murder trial of former Columbus police officer Andrew Mitchell.
Mitchell is accused of murdering Donna Castleberry in August 2018 in the back of an unmarked police car. He's plead not guilty and said he fired his weapon in self-defense after she pulled a knife.
While taking the stand Tuesday, Mitchell said he thought Castleberry was trying to kill him.
"She already cut me once, she just got done choking me. She was trying to kill me,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell claims he was arresting Castleberry in a prostitution sting, although he told her he did not have a badge when she asked for it.
In an audio recording of the shooting, Castleberry can be heard screaming for help and trying to flee the car as Mitchell said she was under arrest. He then fired six times in a 12 second period.
The state argued Castleberry was trying to escape from Mitchell because she didn’t know he was really a police officer and that he didn't follow proper undercover procedures.
Mitchell is facing other, federal charges regarding using his position on the vice squad to force women to have sex with him to stay out of jail.
