FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Testimony wrapped up Wednesday in a “stand your ground” hearing for three former Miami-Dade police officers accused in the 2019 Miramar shootout that killed a UPS driver and an innocent motorist.
During the proceedings, the judge heard plenty of testimony from experts and Leslie Lee, one of the three officers who decided to take the stand.
Former officer Leslie Lee testified, offering a step-by-step account of the shooting.
“I continued to go up the road all the way up until — I wanted to be on the flank, I didn’t want to be behind the truck plus it was already clear right there. So I get all the way up on the back side of the truck on the flank and at which point I grabbed my handgun and got out and jumped out of my truck,” he said.
Standing in front of a video presentation of the incident, he explained the reasoning behind his actions.
“When they said the vehicle was coming to a stop because it was coming up on a traffic — I was trying to get up to the vehicle as fast as I could because I didn’t know if they were going to try to bailout out of the truck or try to carjack another car or what was going to happen, so my whole thinking was to get on the outside lane and try to get up there as fast as I could. I’m watching the truck all the way up to see what they’re going to do next,” he said.
Lee previously acknowledged that he lied to Miramar Police officers during questioning, first saying he did not fire his weapon. He later admitted he did shoot.
The other officers seeking immunity are Rodolfo Mirabal and Richard Santiesteban. They decided against taking the stand on Wednesday.
All three argue they fired in self-defense during the chaotic exchange of gunfire.
The case stems from December 2019, when two men hijacked a UPS truck, leading to a police chase that ended in a shootout in Miramar.
UPS driver Frank Ordonez and bystander Richard Cutshaw were killed.
A fourth officer, suspended Miami-Dade Police Officer Jose Mateo, previously sought immunity. In September, the same judge dismissed manslaughter charges against Mateo, ruling he acted in self-defense.
During those proceedings, Mateo’s attorney had argued he was within his right to defend himself and other people that day.
The judge will again decide whether “stand your ground” protections apply to the other three police officers.
Written closing statement by all parties are expected by the end of the month.
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