Second Trial Underway For Alleged Cop Killer
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Opening statements were underway Friday in the second trial of a man accused of killing a Miami Police detective back in 2008.
Andrew Rolle, 28, is charged with murder for the shooting death of 30-year old Miami Detective James Walker.
"There was a series of events that tragically culminated in the death of detective Walker," said Prosecutor Abbe Rifkin.
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It all started when Rolle was in North Miami Beach to allegedly shoot Ricardo Ajust, a rival, in a gang grudge.
Rolle was dropped off in a North Miami Beach alley by a gang associate who was driving a white Ford Taurus.
Prosecutors say after firing his weapon in the block where he believed his gang rival was, Rolle ran to a white Taurus he thought was driven by his accomplice but it was the wrong car, instead it was James Walker's car.
Walker, who was off-duty, had just pulled in to park his car and visit his estranged wife.
When Rolle tried to get into the car, Walker pulled his gun, but Rolle ended up shooting and killing the officer.
He ran off and but was arrested a week later.
Meanwhile, the defense argues there is no DNA evidence and they were quick to make an arrest.
"There was a frenzy. They were pressured. They wanted to find the person who shot one of their own," said Defense Attorney David Perkins.
This is Rolle's second trial because a mistrial was declared in June after a dispute erupted between lawyers over whether prosecutors properly turned over to the defense a transcript of testimony from a key witness.
"It was disappointing when they announced a mistrial the first time but God is good we're gonna have justice," said Officer James Frasier a friend of Walker. "I told him I was going to be here I was going to be here for the first trial. I will be here now for this trial, going to be here to comfort each other. We have his back"
Rolle faces a life sentence if convicted of Walker's murder. He has already been convicted in two separate robbery cases, for which he is serving a total of 50 years in prison.
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