What to Know
- Van Dyke is charged with murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old McDonald nearly four years ago
- The Chicago police officer was captured on dashcam video shooting McDonald 16 times the night of Oct. 20, 2014, on the city's Southwest Side
- Van Dyke entered a plea of not guilty
NBC Chicago will offer a live stream with complete coverage beginning right here. NOTE: Not all witness testimony will be available for streaming will not appear on camera. You may notice intermittent bars and pauses.
Defense attorneys for Jason Van Dyke rested their case Wednesday, one day after the Chicago police officer who fatally shot Laquan McDonald took the stand in his own murder trial.
Within seconds of court starting, the defense rested and prosecutors began calling rebuttal witnesses. Minutes later, both prosecution and defense rebuttal testimony ended.
Closing arguments are set to begin Thursday.
In the nearly three weeks of trial so far, the defense has called more than 17 witnesses, including Van Dyke himself, as they argue McDonald, a black teenager armed with a knife, posed a threat when Van Dyke, a white officer, opened fire on him.
Attorneys have said that Van Dyke never should have been charged with murder because of an Illinois law that protects peace officers trying to arrest fleeing felons.
Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder more than a year after he shot McDonald on the city's Southwest Side. He entered a plea of not guilty.
The shooting prompted massive protests across the city and catapulted Chicago into the national spotlight.
Special prosecutors rested their case against Van Dyke Thursday after calling 24 witnesses over three and a half days.
Follow along live from the courtroom below:
10:15 a.m.: Following tomorrow’s closing arguments, the jury will receive their instructions and then begin deliberating the fate of Jason Van Dyke.
10:11a.m.: Prosecution and Defense complete rebuttal witness testimony in Jason Van Dyke trial. Closing arguments scheduled for tomorrow morning.
10:09 a.m.: During cross examination, defense attorney Dan Herbert points out that its the policy for Cook County sheriff’s to render aid. But Murphy did not that evening. Herbert then pointed out that its CPD’s policy not to render CPR to victims because they are not trained medical personnel.
10:06 a.m: First rebuttal witness called is Adam Murphy, a Cook County Police Officer who testified back on Sept 18th that heard Laquan McDonald’s last gasp of air. He’s now back on the stand, testifying about the amount of blood he saw on the ground that night.
9:58 a.m.: The defense rests in the Jason Van Dyke murder trial. Up next, the prosecution will call rebuttal witnesses
RECAP OF THE TRIAL
- Full recap from Day 9 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 8 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 7 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 6 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 5 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 4 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 3 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 2 of the trial
- Full recap from Day 1 of the trial
