Prosecutors on Monday revealed more evidence against Stewart Coleman, who is accused of killing Carl Johnson nearly one year ago in August.<\/p>\n
Coleman has pleaded not guilty to murder. Prosecutors showed an image of a handgun recovered from the scene.<\/p>\n
“Could you tell if the firearm was loaded as it sat on the table?” the prosecutor asked.<\/p>\n
“I believe there was a magazine inside,” Fresno Police Officer Steven Excinia said.<\/p>\n
Further testimony indicated the violence that day escalated quickly.<\/p>\n
Johnson went to Coleman’s Northwest Fresno home to look at fishing gear. Within moments, an argument occurred, followed by a shooting.<\/p>\n
Fresno Police Department Corporal Sergio Gonzalez testified about statements from a witness.<\/p>\n
“He started saying, ‘He’s here to kill us. He’s here to kill us.’ After that, she said that he wasn’t right, and she noticed that Stewart had a handgun in one of his hands.”<\/p>\n
It is the second time prosecutors have presented their case. A judge ruled last year that there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial. That case was later dismissed, and a new case was filed, requiring a judge to hear the matter again.<\/p>\n
“Your honor, I’d ask the court not to hold my client to answer. We don’t believe the people have shown requisite malice aforethought,” the public defender argued.<\/p>\n
As officers testified, members of the victim’s family watched from the courtroom gallery. The public defender also raised questions about Coleman’s mental health, revealing he suffered from schizophrenia.<\/p>\n
For the second time, a judge ruled that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.<\/p>\n
Coleman is scheduled to return to court on July 28.<\/p>\n
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