Ryan Routh, on trial for allegedly attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, experienced interruptions during his opening remarks on Thursday. Routh, who is representing himself, began with a narrative on human existence but was quickly cut off by Judge Aileen Cannon for straying off-topic. The judge excused the jury and directed Routh to focus on the specifics of his case. After Routh acknowledged this and resumed, he was again interrupted, with the judge announcing that his opening statements had concluded.
In the prosecution’s opening, attorney John Shipley Jr. asserted that Routh’s actions to assassinate Trump during the 2024 election campaign sought to strip Americans of their right to choose. Shipley referenced various types of evidence that the prosecution planned to present, including cellphone data, security footage, a handwritten note from Routh expressing his intent to kill Trump, and eyewitness accounts, indicating they would support their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The first witness for the government was a U.S. Secret Service agent, Robert Fercano, who testified about an encounter with Routh on the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. Fercano described how he spotted Routh behind a shrub-covered fence, noting armor plates and the muzzle of an AK-style weapon. When he called out to Routh, Fercano realized a weapon was directed at him and called for backup while retreating. The jury heard audio of Fercano declaring “Shots fired!” during the incident.
The prosecution displayed the SKS semiautomatic rifle, which they allege Routh obtained illegally. During cross-examination, Routh questioned Fercano about the incident, which occurred approximately a year prior. Routh faces five charges, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, and has pleaded not guilty. The jury consists of 7 women and 5 men, with 4 alternates selected after three days of jury selection. Routh sought to dismiss jurors with law enforcement backgrounds, but the judge found his concerns insufficient for dismissal.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d793z4mzgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss