Jun 4, 2009 7:57 pm US/Eastern
Trial Begins In Fatal Shooting Of Native American
New Jersey Park Ranger Charged In Emil Mann's Death
HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBS) ―
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Chad Walder is charged in the death of Emil Mann, a member of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation.
CBS
Opening statements began Thursday in Hackensack for the deadly shooting of a member of the native American tribe.
Chad Walder, the New Jersey park ranger charged with shooting and killing a member of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, was in court as his attorney tried to convince a jury he shot Emil Mann in self-defense.
"Emil Mann jumped on him, and he jumped on him and he had him from the back hitting him. And then after hitting him, he tried to grab his gun," said Bob Galantucci, Walder's lawyer.
Walder's wife, who is also a New Jersey park officer, was also present.
During Thursday's trial, jurors got a look at Mann's bullet-pierced jacket and police dash-cam video of the area where the tragedy occurred more than three years ago. Mann was shot twice during a cookout in the Stag Hill section of Mahwah. His family insists it happened after an argument over riding ATVs in the remote area. Prosecutor Jim Santulli said the shooting was unjustified.
"You're going to hear how Chad Walder panicked during this moment and that during that period of time he was face to face with Emil Mann and he fired the two shots and it did not have to happen," Santulli said.
The defense claims that Mann's cousin Otis was attacking another park officer and that Walder was trying to help her when an intoxicated Mann jumped out of a bush.
"He said, 'Stop! Stop!' Emil Mann said, 'Shoot me!'" Galantucci said. "And he lunged for the gun."
Mann's family and members of the Lenape Indian Nation, who were outspoken then, did not want to talk to CBS 2 on Thursday, fearing they would jeopardize the case. The prosecutor asked jurors to keep an open mind.
"You're going to hear he was intoxicated and he had a .103 blood alcohol level," Santulli said.
The trial is expected to last for about three weeks. If convicted, Walder could face 10 years behind bars.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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