Rodney West: “I’m not a killer. I’m not a malicious person”
DOVER, Del. – Rodney West testified for about two hours on Tuesday, getting extremely emotional and sobbing at one point. West was describing the situation that he says made him fear for his life and ultimately led him to shoot Derrick Combs, four times. Through tears, West said, “I’m not a killer. I’m not a malicious person.”
The 54-year-old says he started to fear for his life after Combs began stalking him because of flirtatious text messages between him and Combs’ wife. The defendant says he didn’t contact the police about this reported harassment because he didn’t want to get his wife upset,”didn’t want any trouble” and “wanted things to end”. West did finally go to the police on August 27th to get a protective order but admits he did not get the results he wanted and left.
West says he brought a gun in his car to school on August 28th in order to protect himself. As West was leaving the school, he testified that he loaded the gun and had it on his passenger seat. That’s when Combs stopped his white truck near West’s car and got out. West got out of his car too because he says he would’ve been hurt by Combs even if he stayed in his car.
Then, the seconds that changed everything. West says he saw Combs reach for something and that’s when he fired four shots before leaving the scene and going to Montgomery County, Maryland where he was arrested on August 30th.
West apologized several times during his testimony saying he didn’t want to hurt anyone. He even looked at Combs’ brother in the gallery at one point saying he knows him and wishes he asked the victim’s brother for advice before this all happened.
Closing arguments and jury instruction will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Kent County Court. Rodney West is facing two charges: first degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. The judge is also deciding whether to include any or all of the following lesser charges in jury instruction: 2nd degree murder, manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide.
For coverage on day five of the trial: click here.
