Opening statements began in the trial of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer Phillip Barker on Thursday.
Barker is accused of hitting and killing James Michael Short in 2017, while on his way to a call in Uptown. Officials say Barker had his lights and sirens on while driving 100 miles per hour.
Prosecutors showed body cam footage from the night of the incident. WCNC Charlotte chose not to show the entire video, as it could be disturbing.
“This case is about this defendant’s actions, his criminally negligent actions,” prosecutor Bill Bunting said during opening statements.
Laying out their case for why Barker should be convicted of involuntary manslaughter, the prosecution told the jury he not only hit and killed Short, but that it was a gruesome death.
“He ended Michael Short's life instantaneously, in an extremely violent crash crash -- this dismembered Michael's body," Bunting said.
During opening statements, Barker's attorney stated why his client is not guilty. He says the call Barker was responding to when he hit Short was a "priority one" call.
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