A man accused of killing a Baltimore police official’s husband last year took the stand in his own defense.Sahiou Kargbo, 19, was charged in February 2022 with first- and second-degree murder in the killing of James Blue III, who was the husband of Baltimore police Capt. Lekisha Blue. She returned to court Friday, surrounded by friends and family.The state rested its case Friday afternoon and the judge denied a defense motion for acquittal.On the stand, Kargbo told the jury his version of events, saying he was scared, that the victim was the aggressor and that he only pulled trigger twice. Kargbo told the jury he went to Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School on the morning of the killing, wearing his uniform and carrying his gun in his waistband like he does every day. When his lawyer asked why he carries a gun, Kargbo said: “Bad stuff happens at school. People get stabbed and shot on school property.”Kargbo said he carries the gun to school every day in his waistband with a magazine that has 10-15 rounds.”I fear for my safety at school,” he said.When asked why he didn’t tell this to police, Kargbo said: “I can’t trust them.”When asked about metal detectors at school, Kargbo said it doesn’t matter and that he just walks right in. “They don’t check.”He said he left school when his aunt called, sounding worried and asking him to go to her house in the 1400 block of Walker Avenue. Kargbo said he arrived to find a man in a car, parked in front of his aunt’s house. “I said, ‘What’s up?’ I seen him on the phone. I said, ‘This is my aunt’s house you’re sitting in front of. What are you doing?'” Kargbo told the jury. “He said ‘I don’t owe you an explanation. Get the (expletive) away from my car!'”James Blue III was shot in January 2022 in the 1400 block of Walker Avenue while he sat in his car waiting for a refrigerator delivery.The testimony continued.”He reached for his gun — it was on his right hip, I saw it — he turned all the way around,” Kargbo told the jury. “I got scared. So, I pulled my gun from my waistband. I fired and I thought it would scare him away. But I hear the door crack, so I shot him again.”The prosecutor said: “But you heard evidence that 14 shots were fired from your gun.””The gun did the work by itself,” Kargbo said.Also Friday, the public defender tried to convince the jury that Kargbo shot James Blue III in self-defense. During a contentious 90-minute cross-examination of the lead detective in the case, Sgt. Jonathan Riker, the public defender made several failed attempts to float alternate motives and paint the victim as the aggressor.Riker conceded that the gun seized during Kargbo’s arrest was never tested for DNA, and fingerprint testing of the weapon — in addition to two vehicles, a COVID-19 face mask and a bottle of iced tea — resulted in “no suitable prints.”But then, the defense theory was dealt a major setback when the assistant medical examiner who conducted the autopsy took the stand. She told the jury that James Blue III likely never saw the gun or the shooter because he was shot 10 times from behind and was likely paralyzed from the chest down by one of the bullets.There was also testimony from an FBI agent who said cellphone records put Kargbo at the scene of the killing on Jan. 25.The defense called its own expert witness, a doctor who said Kargbo has an IQ of 71, is intellectually disabled, and therefore, not capable of planning or forming the requisite intent for first-degree murder. The trial continues next week, and the judge told the jury to expect the case will be theirs for consideration on Monday.
A man accused of killing a Baltimore police official’s husband last year took the stand in his own defense.
Sahiou Kargbo, 19, was charged in February 2022 with first- and second-degree murder in the killing of James Blue III, who was the husband of Baltimore police Capt. Lekisha Blue. She returned to court Friday, surrounded by friends and family.
The state rested its case Friday afternoon and the judge denied a defense motion for acquittal.
On the stand, Kargbo told the jury his version of events, saying he was scared, that the victim was the aggressor and that he only pulled trigger twice.
Kargbo told the jury he went to Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School on the morning of the killing, wearing his uniform and carrying his gun in his waistband like he does every day.
When his lawyer asked why he carries a gun, Kargbo said: “Bad stuff happens at school. People get stabbed and shot on school property.”
Kargbo said he carries the gun to school every day in his waistband with a magazine that has 10-15 rounds.
“I fear for my safety at school,” he said.
When asked why he didn’t tell this to police, Kargbo said: “I can’t trust them.”
When asked about metal detectors at school, Kargbo said it doesn’t matter and that he just walks right in. “They don’t check.”
He said he left school when his aunt called, sounding worried and asking him to go to her house in the 1400 block of Walker Avenue. Kargbo said he arrived to find a man in a car, parked in front of his aunt’s house.
“I said, ‘What’s up?’ I seen him on the phone. I said, ‘This is my aunt’s house you’re sitting in front of. What are you doing?'” Kargbo told the jury. “He said ‘I don’t owe you an explanation. Get the (expletive) away from my car!'”
James Blue III was shot in January 2022 in the 1400 block of Walker Avenue while he sat in his car waiting for a refrigerator delivery.
The testimony continued.
“He reached for his gun — it was on his right hip, I saw it — he turned all the way around,” Kargbo told the jury. “I got scared. So, I pulled my gun from my waistband. I fired and I thought it would scare him away. But I hear the door crack, so I shot him again.”
The prosecutor said: “But you heard evidence that 14 shots were fired from your gun.”
“The gun did the work by itself,” Kargbo said.
Also Friday, the public defender tried to convince the jury that Kargbo shot James Blue III in self-defense. During a contentious 90-minute cross-examination of the lead detective in the case, Sgt. Jonathan Riker, the public defender made several failed attempts to float alternate motives and paint the victim as the aggressor.
Riker conceded that the gun seized during Kargbo’s arrest was never tested for DNA, and fingerprint testing of the weapon — in addition to two vehicles, a COVID-19 face mask and a bottle of iced tea — resulted in “no suitable prints.”
But then, the defense theory was dealt a major setback when the assistant medical examiner who conducted the autopsy took the stand. She told the jury that James Blue III likely never saw the gun or the shooter because he was shot 10 times from behind and was likely paralyzed from the chest down by one of the bullets.
There was also testimony from an FBI agent who said cellphone records put Kargbo at the scene of the killing on Jan. 25.
The defense called its own expert witness, a doctor who said Kargbo has an IQ of 71, is intellectually disabled, and therefore, not capable of planning or forming the requisite intent for first-degree murder.
The trial continues next week, and the judge told the jury to expect the case will be theirs for consideration on Monday.
