LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Supreme Court will hear a high-profile case Thursday about a man who killed a woman who banged on his door following a late-night car crash in Dearborn Heights.
Theodore Wafer was convicted of second-degree murder for shooting 19-year-old Renisha McBride on his porch in 2013. The trial judge explained self-defense to jurors, but Wafer says the judge should've said he shot McBride because he believed she was breaking into his home, a key distinction.
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The state's highest court will hear arguments Thursday.
Wafer sentenced to 15-30 years in prison for porch shooting
In September 2014, Wafer was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison.
"I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I am truly sorry for your loss," Wafer said. "From my fear, I caused a loss of life who was too young to leave this world. And for that, I carry that guilt and sorrow forever."
Prosecutors had argued that Wafer, who was 55 at the time, was safe inside his locked house and should have called 911 instead of opening the front door and shooting McBride through the screen door.
"This man has ruined our family's life. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about my daughter," said Walter Simmons, McBride's father, at the sentencing.
McBride's sister also spoke at Wafer's sentencing, saying she would eventually forgive Wafer but could never forget what happened.
"Losing my sister was one of the most devastating times of my life," said Jasmine McBride. "Mr. Wafer, your actions impact a lot of other people other than just yourself."
Details still unclear
It's not known why Renisha McBride was on Wafer's porch, although McBride was drunk and had been in a car wreck earlier that night, about a half-mile away in Detroit.
Judge Dana Margaret Hathaway said she didn't believe Wafer was a "cold-blooded" killer, but that his decisions didn't excuse a death.
"This is one of the saddest cases I have ever had," Hathaway said. "What do we have? One life gone and one life ruined."
Hathaway sentenced Wafer to 15 to 30 years on the second-degree murder charge, seven to 15 years on his manslaughter charge conviction and two years for his felony firearms conviction.
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