Attorneys have ended arguments in the trial of a Town of Chester official accused of shooting a delivery driver last May.
Chester Highway Superintendent John Reilly's defense attorney, Thomas Keniff, argues his client made a mistake but never acted out of rage.
The prosecutor, Senior Assistant Orange County District Attorney Nicholas Mangold argued “bullets go where guns are aimed.”
Jury deliberations will begin Tuesday morning as Reilly faces attempted murder, assault and other felony charges for allegedly shooting DoorDash driver Alpha Barry in his driveway.
Barry said he went to Reilly’s home to ask for help when his phone died, but never asked to come inside.
Reilly's attorneys argued their client was afraid for his family's safety.
Defense attorney Kenniff said Reilly's daughter told her father, “Daddy there’s a stranger at the door." He argued Barry’s poor English contributed to the miscommunication that led to the shooting.
Reilly has maintained he was acting in self-defense when he fired a warning shot at the ground and two shots at the car. Keniff said the bullet that hit Barry had ricocheted and explained, “If he did intend that shot he must be a crack shooter to hit a target 115-140 feet away.”
Barry was shot in the back and spent months recovering from the incident. He testified he had to use a colostomy bag for six months.
The prosecution attorney said Reilly intentionally tried to shoot Barry as he drove away and had no reason to think Barry was attempting a burglary.
County prosecutors said the jury should dismiss Reilly's testimony entirely because they alleged he was lying when he said he had never hurt anyone in his life. They introduced allegations during the trial that he had previously grabbed his wife by the throat while she was pregnant and had threatened to kill her and their children — something the defense said took place more than a decade ago and of which Reilly was never formally accused.
The prosecution said Reilly never called 911 but instead called a friend in law enforcement.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Tuesday.
