Prosecution rests in trial of Cleveland police officer

CLEVELAND (AP) — Prosecutors have called their last witness in the trial of a Cleveland police officer charged in the deaths of two unarmed civilians killed in a 137-shot barrage following a high-speed chase.

Patrolman Michael Brelo’s trial is in its third week. The 31-year-old Brelo is charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the November 2102 deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. Brelo’s attorneys are expected to begin the defense portion of the case Wednesday afternoon.

The attorneys have argued Brelo’s final shots into a car at Russell and Williams were lawful because the pair still posed a threat.

Prosecutors’ last witness was a cousin of Williams who testified that Williams’ life began spiraling out of control after the death of her grandmother and caretaker, and a sexual assault.