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MPR News Staff
St. Cloud, Minn.

Fitch declines to testify, defense rests in cop killer trial

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Brian George Fitch
Brian George Fitch
Courtesy Minnesota Dept. of Corrections

Accused of killing a Mendota Heights police officer, Brian Fitch on Thursday declined to take the stand in his own defense. His lawyers rested the case without calling a single witness.

Closing arguments are expected Monday morning, with the jury getting the case immediately afterward, KARE 11 reported.

Lead defense attorney Lauri Traub entered only one item into evidence — audio from the shootout between Fitch and police in St. Paul's North End on July 30, hours after Officer Scott Patrick was gunned down during a routine traffic stop in West St. Paul.

Fitch was offered the opportunity to take the stand but declined, KARE 11 reported. "My decision would be not to testify," he told the judge.

Fitch has pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting Patrick during the traffic stop. A grand jury indicted Fitch on first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder tied to the shootout with officers who ultimately captured him in St. Paul.

KARE on Thursday also reported:

• Prosecutors presented testimony alleging that while in prison, Fitch tried to arrange for the killing of two witnesses.

• State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension technicians testified blood DNA found on the alleged murder weapon matches Fitch's.

• A fingerprint tech testified that there were no suitable fingerprints on the gun but that fingerprints pulled from a hand drawn map allegedly made by Fitch did match the defendant. Prosecutors allege Fitch drew that map for a fellow inmate so he could kill potential witnesses in his trial.