State Trooper Brian North testifies in his defense in manslaughter trial
North is charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting Mubarak Soulemane.
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State Trooper Brian North took the stand in his defense Friday in the trial of the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane following a high-speed chase in January 2020.
North is charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting Mubarak Soulemane.
The prosecution rested its case Thursday.
North spoke on the stand about the events leading up to the shooting.
Authorities said Soulemane carjacked a vehicle in Norwalk before the chase ended in West Haven.
North testified that after a West Haven officer shattered the window of Soulemane’s stopped car, the previously-motionless driver took on a threatening pose.
He described the scene after Soulemane regained consciousness inside the vehicle.
"He pulls out a silver object, which appeared to be a knife. He then brings it up and holds it in front of him with a closed fist - the edge facing forward and tip facing up. He then turns over towards his right, and I see him make eye contact with the passenger side of the vehicle where Trooper Jackson and West Haven officer are positioned, and I know from my training experience that that's called target glancing."
The trial comes after the Connecticut inspector general concluded North was not justified in using deadly force.
North was the defense’s first witness.
He pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
