CLOSING ARGUMENTS: Salamah Pendleton Murder Trial, Jury Deliberating

GRAND FORKS, ND (trfnews.i234.me) Closing arguments in the murder trial of Salamah Pendleton have wrapped up in Grand Forks. He’s charged with shooting to death Grand Forks Police Officer Cody Holte and his own mother.
* Does not include prosecution rebuttal.

– The speaker thanked everyone for their time and dedication during the long trial.
– The defendant was armed with multiple weapons and prepared for the events of May 27, 2020.
– A book found in the defendant’s living room showed his state of mind and intentions.
– Law enforcement officers went to evict the defendant and had no idea of his intentions.
– The defendant positioned himself behind a door with a loaded AK-74, waiting for law enforcement to open it.
– The defendant fired at the officers, killing Officer Cody Holte.
– The defendant acted with extreme indifference to the value of human life and did not act in self-defense.
– The speaker will go through the elements of the murder charge.

The prosecutor in the case of the murder of Officer Cody Holte presented evidence that the defendant, who was evicted from his apartment, had armed himself with multiple weapons and ammunition and had prepared himself for the events that played out on May 27, 2020. The defendant was found to have a book with definitions of justifiable homicide, excusable homicide, and law enforcement officers on the page of homicide. He placed a two-by-four on his front door, locked himself in the bedroom, and positioned himself with a loaded AK-74, waiting for law enforcement to open the door so he could pull the trigger. When law enforcement breached the bedroom door, the defendant fired his weapon, killing Officer Holte and striking his mother. The defendant then continued to rapidly fire his weapon at officers. The prosecutor presented evidence to support the charges of murder, attempted murder, and reckless endangerment against the defendant. The defense claimed that the defendant acted in self-defense, but there was no evidence to support this claim.

Bullet Summary:
– Defendant armed himself with weapons and ammunition and prepared for eviction
– Defendant positioned himself with a loaded AK-74, waiting for law enforcement to open the door
– Defendant fired his weapon, killing Officer Holte and striking his mother
– Prosecutor presented evidence to support charges of murder, attempted murder, and reckless endangerment
– Defense claimed self-defense, but no evidence supported this claim.