The Latest: Slain boy’s father says officers gave no warning

MARKSVILLE, La. – The Latest on the murder trial of a Louisiana law enforcement officer in a shooting that killed a 6-year-old autistic boy and critically wounded the boy’s father. (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

A father whose 6-year-old boy was killed in a shooting by two Louisiana law enforcement officers says he never heard any warnings from the officers before they opened fire on his car.

Christopher Few testified Tuesday that he remembers hearing the gunshots and raising his hands inside his car after leading officers on a 2-mile (3-kilometre) chase. But Few said he only heard verbal commands from the officers after they stopped shooting.

Few said he learned his son, Jeremy Mardis, was dead when he regained consciousness at a hospital several days after the November 2015 shooting in Marksville.

Few’s testimony at the trial of Derrick Stafford — one of two deputy city marshals charged with second-degree murder — were his first public statements about the deadly shooting.

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4 a.m.

A Louisiana law enforcement officer’s murder trial resumes with a second day of testimony about his role in a shooting that killed a 6-year-old autistic boy and critically wounded his father.

Jurors on Monday heard attorneys’ opening statements for Derrick Stafford’s trial, which is scheduled to resume Tuesday.

Stafford is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jeremy Mardis and attempted second-degree murder in the wounding of his father, Christopher Few.

Defence lawyers claim Stafford and another deputy city marshal, Norris Greenhouse Jr., acted in self-defence when they fired on Few’s vehicle after a November 2015 car chase in Marksville.

Prosecutors say the deputies weren’t in danger. Video from a police officer’s body camera shows Few’s hands were raised during the shooting.

Greenhouse awaits a separate trial later this year.

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