Marco Perez trial: opening statements, surveillance video shows altercation between former MPD officer and Perez

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Testimony for the man accused of killing a Mobile police officer began Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutor Ashley Rich represented the state and laid out the state’s case to the jury in opening statements Wednesday morning.

Marco Perez is charged with capital murder for allegedly shooting and killing Mobile police officer Sean Tuder at the Peach Place Inn Apartments in January 2019.

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In opening statements Wednesday morning, Rich explained to the jury that the state would have to prove that he knew Sean Tuder and that he killed him because of his occupation since Perez is facing capital murder.

Rich laid out a timeline of events from November 2018 to January 2019. During that time, Rich said that Perez faked his kidnapping to avoid a hearing for his prior federal charges. Because of that, Perez knew that law enforcement was looking for him.

Marco Perez’s defense attorney, Dennis Knizley, argued that Perez argued that Perez acted purely out of self-defense.

Surveillance video that played during opening statements showed Officer Sean Tuder working undercover pulling up to the Peach Place Inn Apartments on Leroy Stevens Road in West Mobile.

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Tuder was shown pulling into the apartments in his personal unmarked vehicle in regular civilian clothing.

The video shows Tuder getting out of his car and pointing a gun at Perez. They both began wrestling, and in the video, their altercation went off-camera, and that’s when Rich said Perez fired three shots at Tuder.

Since Knizley is arguing that Perez acted in self-defense, he explained that the state has the burden to prove that Perez was not acting out of self-defense.

After opening statements, the state called their first witness: Sergeant Dennis Owens with the Mobile Police Department.

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He testified that he ran a background check on the gun used to kill Tuder and made the discovery that it was stolen.

Testimony is expected to continue Thursday at 9 a.m.

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