No Testimony From Man Accused In Trooper's Death, Jury Begin Deliberation
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The man accused in the death of a Colorado State Patrol cadet did not testify in his own defense and now the jury is deliberating the case.
Closing arguments began Tuesday morning in the trial of Christopher Gebers. Gebers, 28, is on trial for 16 charges including first-degree murder in the death of Taylor Thyfault.
Gebers did not take the stand. The jury got the case in the afternoon.
Prosecutors say Gebers acted recklessly when he crashed his car into two troopers in May 2015. They also say he was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he fled a traffic stop and then crashed into another accident scene.
Prosecutors also say Thyfault was a hero who saved the life of a tow truck driver by warning him to get out of the way just before he was struck and killed.
His defense has argued the Colorado State Patrol made procedural mistakes in the traffic stop. They believe those mistakes are enough to throw out some evidence.
During opening statements, Gebers' defense attorney said, "He made bad choices and decisions but those bad choices do not equal first-degree murder."
Thyfault died at the scene and Trooper Clinton Rushing was injured.
Gebers has pleaded not guilty to 16 charges.
