AUSTIN, Texas — Day three in the trial of an Austin police officer charged with murdering a man while responding to a call wrapped up Wednesday.
Officer Christopher Taylor shot and killed Michael Ramos outside a southeast Austin apartment complex in April 2020. A 911 caller said Ramos had a gun in his car but police were not able to find one.
On Wednesday, the jury heard testimony from several witnesses, including three police officers who were with Taylor the night Ramos was confronted in the parking lot: Darrell Cantu-Harkless, Benjamin Hart and James Morgan
Before the officers took the stand, the jury heard from Cortney Scott, the son of the 911 caller who reported that Ramos had a gun, and Jennifer De La Garza, who was living at the apartment complex when thee incident happened and took cell phone video of the encounter.
Tensions ran high when prosecutor Gary Cobb questioned Hart about whether or not there was an arrest warrant issued for Ramos.
"But there was never a warrant issued before or after that, was there?" Cobb asked.
"That I'm aware of, no sir," Hart said.
"Detective, you seem to be very reluctant to admit a simple fact," Cobb said. "What are you trying to hide?"
"I'm not trying to hide anything," Hart said.
Cobb subsequently asked Hart if he was in fear for his life when Ramos drove off.
"Tell us why you feared for your life, the moment that the car moved," Cobb asked Hart.
"Because I thought he might come toward us, because that was the only thing that logically... if he can't go around us that way and he's got the car out of the corner of my eye, he's always moving, he could be there, he could be coming to us. I didn't know if he was," Hart said.
While testifying, Hart admitted that he was afraid of a possible gun that he and other officers initially believed Ramos had. Hart said it wasn't until days later that he learned Ramos wasn't armed.
The defense had no questions for Hart.
The Judge has informed the jury that the trial is ahead of schedule and that the State is expected to complete their witness testimony next Tuesday. Day four of testimony is expected to start Thursday morning.