The prosecution has rested its case against Jamel Booker, the man accused of shooting Ithaca police officer Anthony Augustine last October.
Booker has been charged with attempted murder after shooting Augustine, who was chasing him at the time. On Tuesday, a doctor who had treated Augustine said the injury could have been fatal. The hollow-point bullet grazed the officer’s bullet-proof vest and passed through his chest. Augustine himself took the stand. He identified Booker as the shooter and said the defendant leaned forward and shot him from about seven feet away.
The defense contends that Booker had no intent to hurt or kill the officer when he shot him, but that he feared for his life and was trying to escape. It will call witnesses beginning today.
