MIAMI – Deliberations will continue Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of killing a Miami cop after the jury became deadlocked Tuesday evening.
The man accused in the shooting death of an off-duty Miami police detective elected not to testify in his defense before closing arguments began Tuesday, indicating he and his legal team believe the state has not proven its case.
The defense immediately took aim at the state's lack of physical evidence.
"The police did an exceptional job in this case and yet, there's not an iota of physical evidence linking Andrew Rolle to this crime," said Rolle's attorney, David Peckins.
The state countered, reminding jurors, "The sum is greater than the whole of its parts," and all roads lead to Rolle.
"This is an AK-47," said prosecutor Abbe Rifkin, who was holding the murder weapon in his hands. "And nobody carries a gun like this and uses a gun like this unless they mean business."
Prosecutors argued that in 2008, Rolle, after having fired several shots at a rival gang member, shot and killed Detective James Walker after he tried getting into the officer's car. They said Rolle believed it was his friend's getaway car, thus shooting down the self-defense claim.
"It's critical that the tragedy stops there and that the wrong person isn't convicted of this crime," said Peckins.
"If you bring a gun to the party you're responsible for what happens thereafter," countered Rifkin. "You can't say, 'Oh, it's self-defense. I thought he was going to shoot me -- too bad.'"
A jury is currently deliberating whether to find Rolle guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
The two counts of attempted first-degree murder stem from two people in another car that Rolle allegedly shot at and missed the same night Walker was killed.
Rolle faces life in prison if convicted.
The jury will return Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
Follow John Turchin on Twitter @johnturchin
Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10