DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — Former Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver, accused of the murder of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards at party he was breaking up in April of 2017, testified Thursday on day six of his murder trial.
The prosecution rested its case Thursday morning. Oliver’s attorney’s quoted a famous radio personality when introducing him to the stand.
“Paul Harvey would say, ‘ladies and gentlemen, now for the rest of the story,’” the attorney said while calling Oliver to the stand. “And now,we want you to hear the rest of the story.”
Oliver testified about his tough upbringing and his military background, including being stationed in Iraq.
After nearly half an hour of questions about his personal life and time in the military, the defense began asking about night Edwards was shot. Oliver said that when he heard gunshots near the party he believed there was an active shooter. He testified that when he saw his partner standing near the car Edwards was riding in he thought he needed assistance. He said his role that night was to back up his partner.
“By the tone of voice he used on the radio and by using salty language that told me that there is something going on with this car and I got to get up there to help him with it,” Oliver said.
Oliver said he thought the car was going to run over his partner.
“A car is a deadly weapon,” Oliver testified. “When lethal force is being used toward us I had no other choice but to use lethal force to try to stop it.”
Oliver’s partner testified earlier in the trial that he was not in fear for his life. Oliver said Thursday that with what he knows now, he shot and innocent teenager. But said he didn’t know that at the time.
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