Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby took the stand Monday in her own defense.
Shelby, who is white, is being tried on a first-degree manslaughter charge in the death of Terence Crutcher, who was unarmed and black.
Shelby’s attorneys called her to the stand around 11:30 Monday morning, asking her about her training and career. Shelby said she’s pulled her gun dozens of times in her 10 years as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy but never fired because the person at gunpoint always followed her orders.
During cross-examination, prosecutors asked Shelby whether Crutcher’s death was his fault. Shelby said it was because he wasn’t following orders, his actions made her fear for her life and she’s trained to shoot to stop a threat — that she has to "be faster" than someone who might want to harm her.
Shelby said she thought Crutcher was reaching into his stalled SUV for a gun. Police did not find a gun in Crutcher's possession.
Defense attorneys also called witnesses Monday to talk about past instances of Crutcher resisting arrest. An OSU officer told how he pulled a rifle on Crutcher because he would not follow his commands back in 2014.
Meanwhile, a juror was dismissed in the trial because of illness. One of the two alternates will take over that position, but will not be told until after closing arguments.
The defense may call its final witnesses Tuesday.
