Capital murder trial closing arguments

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - After 90 minutes of closing arguments, the prosecution has rested its case against Ryan Frederick. The defense will be present its closing arguments at around 4:00 p.m. today. WAVY News 10's Ava Hurdle will have the latest coming up tonight at 5 on WAVY News 10.

On Friday, following days of testimony, including from neighbors, deputies, and Ryan Frederick himself, the defense rested its case and the prosecution called forth rebuttal witnesses.

Also on Friday, Jamal Skeeter, the jailhouse inmate who acted as a police informant, retook the witness stand.

The defense introduced more than a dozen letters Skeeter wrote to the Portsmouth Public Defender's office in which he offered his "knowledge" in several cases, including the Frederick case and the Michael Vick investigation.

When walking into the courtroom on Friday, Skeeter asked all members of the media and public to leave. He then told the judge he did not want his name published in any papers or put on the news. The judge told him that by testifying he had no choice. Skeeter agreed to proceed and in his testimony the jailhouse informant denied writing some of the letters but admitted his name was on the envelopes.

When Frederick's lawyer, James Broccoletti, questioned Skeeter, the informant refused to answer at first, saying, "I don't want to answer no questions."

"Mr. Skeeter, I don't think you have a choice," answered Broccoletti.

"I'm not going to answer no questions."

"Why aren't you going to answer any questions?"

"I'm going through too much right now."

Skeeter's testimony followed that of defendant Ryan Frederick. Frederick was called to the stand on Thursday. During Frederick's testimony the jury was allowed to view the police interrogation video in its entirety.

Frederick's lawyer, James Broccoletti focused his questioning of the defendant on the moments before Frederick pulled the trigger, killing Det. Jarrod Shivers.

His goal: to convince the jury Frederick had no idea police were at his door.

"Did you have any idea police were at your door," asked Broccoletti.

"No clue at all," answered Frederick.

The night of January 17, Frederick says he was lying in bed after taking Zanes, a drug for anxiety and stress, and smoking marijuana earlier in the day.

His TV was on. His lights were on. His curtains were closed. His dogs started barking.

And then he heard a knock.

Frederick wasn't expecting anyone and he says he was nervous after his garage was broken into three days earlier.

"Did you hear any voices," Frederick's lawyer asked.

"No."

"Did you hear any yelling," he pried again.

"No."

Frederick then grabbed his gun and moved towards the door. Frederick's testimony comes one day after jurors toured the scene of the shooting. They saw Frederick's home from the outside and the front door where police lined up. Frederick was on the other side when he said he heard a loud noise.

"The perception I got was that it was a shotgun band. A big loud bang," said Frederick. "After I heard the big bang, I heard what sounded like a tree cracking sound, like wood cracking."

Frederick said there was a hole in his door and a face on the other side. But he could only see a nose, mouth, and chin. He says he was not able to identify the person as a police officer.

When Frederick said he saw an arm reaching through the door for his deadbolt, he shot his gun, killing Det. Jarrod Shivers. But without any knowledge of who was on the other side of the door. Frederick claims self defense.