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SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California decide pulled a loaded gun from his ankle holster and fatally shot his spouse throughout an argument whereas the couple was watching tv, a prosecutor informed jurors because the decide’s trial bought underway Wednesday.
Orange County Superior Court docket Choose Jeffrey Ferguson, who’s now 74 years previous, is heard saying on police movies proven in court docket that he shot his spouse, Sheryl Ferguson. His lawyer does not dispute that Ferguson fired the gun however contends it was an accident.
Ferguson had been ingesting on Aug. 3, 2023, when he argued along with his spouse about funds throughout dinner at a neighborhood restaurant and later whereas watching “Breaking Dangerous” at residence with their grownup son, prosecutor Seton Hunt stated. At one level within the night, Ferguson made a gun hand gesture towards her, and he or she later chided him to level an actual one at her, Hunt stated.
Ferguson proceeded to take action and pulled the set off, Hunt stated. He was later taken into custody, and in feedback captured on a police video recording, pleaded for a jury to convict him.
“I killed her,” Ferguson is heard saying. “I did it.”
Wednesday’s statements got here in the beginning of Ferguson’s trial on a homicide cost in a case that has roiled the authorized group in Orange County. To keep away from a battle of curiosity, a Los Angeles County decide is presiding over the case earlier than jurors in Santa Ana — not removed from the place Ferguson beforehand heard circumstances in his courtroom.
Ferguson — who was once a felony prosecutor — sat in court docket within the defendant’s chair and wore a grey go well with jacket and glasses. He has pleaded not responsible. His lawyer, Cameron J. Talley, reserved his opening assertion for later within the trial, however he beforehand stated the taking pictures was unintended. He stated his shopper deliberate to testify.
After the taking pictures, Ferguson and his son each referred to as 911, and Ferguson texted his court docket clerk and bailiff saying: “I simply misplaced it. I simply shot my spouse. I will not be in tomorrow. I will likely be in custody. I am so sorry,” in accordance with a replica of a textual content message Hunt confirmed jurors.
Video footage from a police body-worn digital camera exhibits Ferguson outdoors the house, in handcuffs, swearing and asking if his spouse was nonetheless alive. He stated his son and everybody would hate him, and that he by no means imagined he would wind up just like the violent gang members he prosecuted when he labored within the district legal professional’s workplace, in accordance with the footage.
“By no means in my wildest desires I assumed I would be sitting right here in handcuffs,” Ferguson is heard saying.
Authorities have stated they later discovered 47 weapons, together with the gun, and greater than 26,000 rounds of ammunition at Ferguson’s residence. Hunt stated Ferguson had ample expertise and coaching in working firearms.
Ferguson’s son Phillip testified that his father taught him firearm security, together with to all the time level a weapon in a protected path. He stated after the taking pictures he jumped over a sofa and compelled his father handy over the gun. He stated he then referred to as 911 and attended to his mom, performing CPR when she was now not respiration.
“As I used to be leaping over the sofa, I heard her say, ‘He shot me,'” Phillip stated.
Ferguson was launched on $1 million bail in 2023 however re-arrested final yr after Choose Eleanor J. Hunter decided he had lied about ingesting alcohol in violation of his bail circumstances. Ferguson was later launched on $2 million bail.
Ferguson has been an elected decide in Orange County for a decade, however he’s not at the moment listening to circumstances. Underneath the state’s structure, a decide who faces a felony cost can proceed to attract a wage however cannot hear circumstances.
He started his authorized profession within the district legal professional’s workplace in 1983 and went on to work narcotics circumstances, for which he gained numerous awards, and was president of the North Orange County Bar Affiliation from 2012 to 2014.
Ferguson was admonished by the Fee on Judicial Efficiency in 2017 for posting a press release on Fb a few judicial candidate “with understanding or reckless disregard for the reality of the assertion,” and for being Fb buddies with attorneys showing earlier than him in court docket, in accordance with a replica of the company’s findings.
On his Fb web page, Ferguson stated he grew up in a navy household and traveled all through Asia as a baby. He attended school and regulation faculty in California and married his spouse in 1996.
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