Minutes into his trial, Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump, got cut off by the judge for veering off topic.
“Modern trials seem to eliminate all that is human,” Routh, who is defending himself, told jurors as he began his opening remarks on Thursday.
He opened with a “history” of human existence, but was cut off within minutes by Judge Aileen Cannon who excused the jury and told Routh he had to restrict his comments to the case.
Routh agreed and apologized, but the judge again cut him off when he resumed, instructing Routh that his opening remarks were over.
For the prosecution, attorney John Shipley Jr said in his opening that by trying to assassinate Trump in the midst of the 2024 election, Routh “decided to take the choice away from the American people,”
Cellphone data, security footage, a handwritten note by Routh stating an intention to kill Trump, plus eyewitness testimony would prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, Mr Shipley said.
The US Secret Service agent, who testified that he discovered a man hiding on the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, was the first government witness to take the stand.
In court, Robert Fercano identified the man he discovered last year through a shrub-covered fence as Routh, who sat alone watching from the defense table wearing a gray blazer and blue tie.
Mr Fercano testified that while patrolling the area near the sixth hole of the golf course, he saw a face, armored plates, and what appeared to be the muzzle of an AK-style weapon poking through the fence.
After calling, “Hey, sir,” Mr Fercano realized a weapon was pointed at him, and called for backup while moving away.
Jurors heard audio of Mr Fercano radioing colleagues after he discharged his weapon in Routh’s direction: “Shots fired! Shots fired! Shots fired!”
At prosecutors’ request, the agent stood before the jury holding the SKS semiautomatic rifle they allege Routh obtained illegally and used in the assassination attempt.
Then Routh began questioning him – almost exactly a year after Mr Fercano said he came face to face with him at Trump’s golf club.
“I do know you pointed the weapon at my face,” Mr Fercano told Mr Routh in response to questions about the positioning of the weapon.
Routh is charged with five crimes, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate as well as firearms charges, among others. He has pleaded not guilty.
The jury has 7 women and 5 men, seated on Wednesday after three days of selection. There are 4 alternates (2 women and 2 men).
Routh tried to dismiss prospective jurors with law enforcement ties, citing bias but the judge said his reasons were not valid for dismissal.
CBS, the BBC’s news partner, contributed to this report.
