Chan’s defense calls first witness to the stand
Defense attorneys representing Tai Chan, the former Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputy accused of killing his partner, called their first witness to the stand Tuesday.
Chan is charged with Murder for the killing of fellow deputy Jeremy Martin inside the Hotel Encanto. The deputies were spending the night in Las Cruces after dropping off a prisoner in Arizona.
The prosecution has not rested its case, but the defense was allowed to call its first witness due to a scheduling conflict.
Philip Trompetter, a psychologist who specializes in officer involved shootings, testified he believed Chan perceived Martin as a deadly threat the night he shot and killed him inside the Hotel Encanto.
Trompetter’s assessment was based on an interview he had with Chan. However, Trompetter admitted he didn’t speak with law enforcement or any other witnesses that night.
“I think he was perceiving a deadly threat based on what he told me occurred in that room at the hotel just before the shooting,” he said. “And based on what he said in the patrol car about having to fire on a friend,the person was trying to kill him and fired first. I believe his actions are consistent with the way officers would respond to a threat like that.”
The prosecution says Martin was shot five times in the back.
Trompetter admitted there is no reason to continue firing at a person if the person is unarmed. He also said there is no reason for an officer to continue firing if they no long perceive a threat.
