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Sudanese man defends himself in murder trial
A Sudanese man charged with murder after a shooting at a Grand Island gas station took the stand Friday.
Friday we heard from 35 year-old, Arkanjelo Kot, who took the stand in his own defense. He is pleading not guilty to the first degree murder of 17-year-old Walid Omar Aden. Kot is originally from Sudan and has an interpreter for the trial. Friday, we heard Kot's side of the story about what happened that tragic night. A simple visit to the gas station became much more than that back in 2010. Arkanjelo Kot testified in court Friday that he was at the Pump and Pantry on West Second Street in Grand Island to trade in lottery tickets for gas money. He says a man, whom he didn't know, approached him yelling and was asking why Kot allowed his friend to be arrested. That man was Aden. Adding that Aden said he was friends with the men who shot Kot and murdered his cousin in 2009 and they would kill him also. Kot went inside to trade in the tickets. Kot says Aden was swearing at him when he came back out, but thought Aden wanted him to come to the van, so he did. That's when Aden said, "if you don't leave right now, I will kill you." Kot says he was terrified. He went to his car and got his gun. He says he went back to the white van because he wanted to identify the person talking to him so he could call the police to tell them he was being threatened. Kot says he heard someone say, "get the gun." That's when he saw a person rise up from the van and thought he was getting a gun. Kot says he pointed his gun towards the van, but it happened too quickly, he doesn't remember firing the gun. That's when he says the van left. 17 year-old Walid Omar Aden was shot that night and later died at St. Francis Medical Center. Kot is being charged with first degree murder and using a handgun to commit a felony. If convicted, Kot could face life in prison without parole. Surveillance video from the gas station played earlier this week in court. The trial has not gone to jury yet. The defense has not rested. That means the case will continue Monday. News 5 will continue to keep you updated on the details of the trial as it continues. |
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