McPherson Takes The Stand In His Own Murder Trial
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Testimony has wrapped up in the first degree murder trial for former Lane student Roger McPherson. Thursday, McPherson took the stand in his own defense. Roger McPherson admitted to going to Lane Express Market to buy cigars not to confront the man he says robbed him several months earlier. According to McPherson, the victim, Michael Bell, robbed him at gunpoint sometime at the beginning of the 2010 school year. “He had two other people with him and one of them snatched me towards the car and put a gun right here, Mr. Bell did the gun like this and he said, ‘If you don’t get me what I’m trying to get, it’s going to be a murder in this store,’ ” said McPherson. On the witness stand, McPherson said he did not want to become a victim. “And I was thinking that he was getting ready to shoot, so I just, I just wanted to scare him off I started shooting a couple of shots,” said McPherson. McPherson, who was armed at the time, said he had no intention of killing Michael Bell and was reacting to the alleged gun, Bell was holding in his right pocket. “I wasn’t aiming or nothing like that, I just did a couple of shots and got in the car so I could leave, buy me some time to get away,” said McPherson. McPherson said he did not call the police after the shooting because he was not aware Bell had been shot. Also while on the stand, McPherson said he panicked and that is why he lied about his alibi. Closing arguments will begin Friday at 9 a.m., then the jury will begin their deliberations.
