Closing arguments in the trial of a former Columbus police officer who shot and killed 23-year old Donna Castleberry in his vehicle were rescheduled from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
The delay is said to have been caused as attorneys for former vice squad officer Andrew Mitchell and prosecutors discussed the instructions jurors will receive after closing arguments.
Mitchell took the stand in his defense Monday. He said he shot and killed Donna Castleberry because he feared for his life when he attempted to arrest her on charges of prostitution and she pulled out a knife and cut him in his unmarked vehicle.
Prosecutors questioned Mitchell about the audio recording of the struggle between them. Castleberry cries out for help several times.
Mitchell fired six times in a 12 second period.
Prosecutors contend Castleberry was trying to escape from Mitchell because she didn’t know he was really a police officer and he didn't follow proper undercover procedures.
Mitchell is facing other, federal charges that he used his position on the vice squad to force women to have sex with him to stay our of jail.
