The former Kingsland police officer who is facing manslaughter charges after a man was shot and killed during an officer-involved shooting last year took the stand in the second day of trial Wednesday.
Zechariah Presley is charged with voluntary manslaughter and violation of oath of office after the shooting death of 33-year-old Tony Green.
During Wednesday's proceedings, Presley was questioned by his attorney to explain what he says happened the night he shot and killed Green.
An analyst brought in by the defense made a simulation of Presley's testimony and the footage captured that night in June 2018.
It started with a car chase and then a foot race. The simulation showed the men running almost 200 yards until Green fell to the ground.
Presley said when approached to detain Green, Green jumped on top of him. At that point, Presley said he feared for his life.
"At that point in time, he attacked me," Presley said. "I don't know how he did it -- if he rolled me, flipped me -- but it was fast and violent. It caused me to hit my head."
Green got up afterward and that's when the simulation showed Green stopping and turning toward Presley before being shot.
However, the prosecutor questioned the analyst of how he knew Green was facing Presley on that first shot when forensic evidence shows Green was also shot in the back at some point.
The analyst said he could not actually determine the order the shots were fired.
During Wednesday's trial, Presley said Green attempted to reach for his belt, where Presley's gun was kept. He said at that moment he began to think of his children and what would happen if Presley was killed.
The courtroom became tense when prosecutors asked Presley if he knew that Green was a father as well.
"Yes I do," Presley said. "When I look at my children, I think about his children as well. I also know he has a father in corrections. I put myself in his shoes and I can relate to him as both law enforcement and he has kids. I wonder how him and his family feel every day."
Back in June 2018, officials said Presley shot and killed Green, who was unarmed, while he was running away from a traffic stop. Presley was fired and charged within days of the shooting.
Presley now faces voluntary manslaughter charges, involuntary manslaughter and violation of oath of office.
Testimony on Tuesday included the passenger in Green’s vehicle the night of the shooting, Eric Hines. Hines, who testified with immunity from the State, said he and Green fled on foot after Presley pursued the pair in his marked police unit. Hines said the flee was to avoid a possible violation of probation orders.
A forensics expert also took to the stand explaining the location of gunshot wounds on Green’s body after Presley fired. Eight rounds. The expert testified Green had low levels of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and tranquilizer in his system.
Dash camera and body camera footage of the pursuit and shooting was played to the jury for the first time on Tuesday. At one point in the video after firing his gun, Presley said to another officer on scene, “I thought he was going to kill me.”
Presley could face 20 years in prison if convicted.