An East Point officer testified Wednesday that two former co-workers went too far in using a Taser more than a dozen times on a handcuffed man.
Former police Cpl. Howard Weems and former Sgt. Marcus Eberhart are charged with one count each of felony murder in the 2014 death of 24-year-old Gregory Lewis Towns Jr.
Officer Nicole Allen called the use of the Taser “unnecessary” when she took the stand Wednesday, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Towns was trying to catch his breath after a chase of less than a mile when Weems and Eberhart activated their Tasers a combined 13 times in an effort to get the 281-pound man to stand, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported.
New at 6pm. Cellphone video of a man getting medical help after repeated stun gun shocks by former East Point cops on trial for murder. pic.twitter.com/rAjT5fvfAB
— Tom Regan (@tomreganWSB) December 7, 2016
Defense lawyers said the officers did not intend to injure Towns and had no idea of his serious medical conditions, including heart problems that contributed to his death.
Lawyers also questioned Allen’s testimony, noting she had no training in the use of Taser stun guns, Channel 2 reported.
Allen said in court that Weems and Eberhart using excessive force was her opinion, so that’s why she didn’t include it in her report or during an interview with the GBI.
The former officers are also charged with aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, and three counts of violation of oath by a public officer. If convicted, they face a possible life sentence.
