The ongoing trial of three former San Antonio Police Department officers charged with the shooting death of 46-year-old Melissa Perez has presented unsettling new evidence to the court. As per FOX San Antonio, body camera footage screened in the courtroom revealed officers expressing fear for their safety prior to the shooting, with Perez wielding a hammer.
Dramatic testimony unfolded as Officer Andrew Chernak, who did not witness the shooting, was cross-examined on his report’s adherence to department policy. The defense sought to highlight that despite the tense situation, there was no documentation of officer misconduct—Chernak stated, “I didn’t see, and I don’t have firsthand knowledge of it. I did not believe there was anything illegal about it.” The trial aims to meticulously examine every detail to establish the necessity of the use of lethal force from the defendants.
Testimony in the trial paused abruptly, reported by KENS5, when the defense objected to graphic crime scene photos being shown to the jury, with the judge adjourning the proceedings early to review these materials. The emotional gravity of the case is palpable, with Perez’s family leaving the courtroom in tears…