Both the prosecution and the defense rested their cases Tuesday in the trial of a Fort Myers man accused of fatally shooting Fort Myers Police officer Adam Jobbers-Miller.
They are scheduled to present closing arguments Wednesday morning. Each side will get one hour.
The accused, Wisner Desmaret, 34, could face the death penalty if convicted.
He continued to challenge the court Tuesday through the preparation of jury instructions.
Lee Circuit Judge Robert Branning will read the instructions to jurors on Wednesday.
Desmaret has represented himself during the trial, with attorney Lee Hollander as standby counsel. Hollander was able to assist Desmaret more on Tuesday, compared to the first day of trial, which was Monday.
Desmaret alleged the charges listed in the jury instructions didn’t match those listed on his probable cause sheet.
“I already made it clear on the record,” Desmaret said. “None of these charges apply to me.”
He alleged his papers said “not applicable.”
Desmaret continued to challenge whether jurors are fair or unfair if they have spouses, children or neighbors in law enforcement. He made it clear since jury selection began April 3 he did not want his fate in the hands of anyone with a link to law enforcement.
Evidence presented during trial included Jobbers-Miller’s autopsy, Jobbers-Miller’s handgun used by Desmaret and recollections of witnesses from the incidents that unfolded on July 21, 2018.
Witnesses called by State Attorney Amira Fox and Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner included the Fort Myers Police officers who responded the day of the shooting to an initial cellphone robbery at a Marathon gas station on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations Wednesday after closing arguments. If they determine Desmaret is guilty there would be a second trial after which the jury would recommend a sentence, possibly the death penalty.