call now. >>> former police officer michael slager took the stand in his own defense in his murder trialn south carolina. slager is charged in the shooting death of walter scott following a routine traffic stop last year. the former officer told the jury that scott grabbed his stun gun that he feared for his life. and he kept on firing until he believed the threat was over. more now from boris sanchez in charleston. zblaun and christine, some very uncomfortable moments in court as michael slager took the stand in his own defense. the prosecution grilling him, going frame by frame, in excruciating detail. the prosecution asking him all kinds of specific questions where was he looking at certain parts of the tape. how was he shifting his weight during the encounter. and the question that kept coming up again and again how could walter scott have been a threat to michael slager life if he was trying to get away. a point where he was still unarmed. here's a bit of that from the prosecution and michael slager. >> would you agree that even if mr. scott had that taser it could not have been use

the prosecution literally handing michael slager a tape measure and asking him to hold it. prosecutor then walking 18 feet away. that represents the 18 feet between michael slager and walter scott when slager first opened fire. the prosecutor holding the tape measure with his back turned to him, turning and and asking him how could a person this far away, running away from you have been a threat to your life? slager stuck to his guns, saying that he responded according to his training and he opened fire as quickly as he could on someone that he felt had threatened his life, don. >> and, boris, you know, this interesting moment in the courtroom we hear that slager apparently broke down over his family situation. what more can you tell us? >> reporter: right. that was during the defense portion of the questioning, when they were asking him about his upbringing, where he went to high school, what got him into service, into being a police officer. and then they asked him specifically about his family life and his child, his wife was actually pregnant when the encounter with wal

scott in april 2015 for a broke tail light, then they scuffled and scott grabbed his taser then michael slager shots god, he faces 30 years to life if convicted. >> buono made a break for it after flight landed hous a passenger on united flight to houston when she approached her, they say that she was captured and taken to the hospital is in the copley what they saw, he said that there is a woman running so that i do not pay much attention and then my sister says there was a woman running. passenger thought that she may have less something on the that the fbi says that nothing was found and they have no idea why he left the plane that way. today we made it into the low '60s, rainfall was gone around sunrise today mostly cloudy wit relaxed wans. it is almost the end of november, we did have a high of 61 today and sunset at 4:59 p.m. after december 17 sunset will b at 5:00 p.m. and then it will b 57 degrees cuyahoga airport. there is a 67 and raleigh. to the last, you see 37 degrees minneapolis. rainfall in operation beginning at daylight tomorrow most of the rainfall, should stay to the south a

traffic map = no delays green on traffic map = no delays expected to hear closing arguments in the michael slager murder trial today. slager is the former north charleston patrolman charged in the shooting death of 50-year-old walter scott. he allegedly fled a traffic stop in april of last year. the shooting was captured on cellphone video. the prosecution contends there was no justification for shooting scott five times in the back as he ran. the defense has argued -- and slager himself testified that he feared for his life when scott wrestled with the officer and grabbed his years to life if convicted. another new judge has been assigned to the second trial of former university of cincinnati police officer ray tensing. the first trial judge and two successors disqualified themselves. tensing faces murder and voluntary manslaughter charges for shooting and killing sam dubose during a traffic stop last july. a mistrial was declared earlier this month due to a hung jury. new this morning... it's been our weather deck renovation is now complete! check out this cool timelapse we've put together to s

. >>> closing arguments expected today in the former south carolina police officer michael slager. he is charged with murder of walter scott who was running away unarmed. slager testified in his own defense and boris has been following this. what have you learned, boris? >> some very emotional and uncomfortable moments in court as michael slager took the stand in his own defense. the prosecution grilling him and showing that infamous video with walter scott. the prosecution going frame by frame second by second in excruciating detail asking michael slager about where he was looking at certain points in the video and how he was moving his feet and shifting his weight and then repeatedly asking him how walter scott could have been a threat to his life if he was so far away, trying to run away. here's a bit of that exchange between slager and the prosecution. >> you've seen the video. >> i have. >> and you heard that he was 18 feet away. would you agree that he was not a threat to you with that taser without a cartridge from that distance? >> no. >> okay. so you're going to stick to t

the video -- showing officer michael slager -- shooting walter scott -- was played in story on the witness stand. abc's -- marci gonzalez -- has more. for the first time - jurors seeing this now infamous video police say shows former north charleston police officer michael slager - shooting and killing walter scott? (nat shots) the man who recorded those 8 gunshots... (nats - last shot) taking the stand friday- (sot - santana - 10;13;42;34) he shoot the man running from him. feidin santana, describing that april day this year- coming across officer slager running after scott- an unarmed man broken tail-light.. describing hearing a taser --just before he hit record - (sot - santana) i didn't know what was happening. just the electric sound there at the beginning caught my attention." slager - who was fired soon after the video murder---maintains he shot scott because while they were on the ground- scott grabbed his taser and pointed it at him. something santana says he didn't see. (sot - prosecutor - 115443) did you see walter scott coming at officer slager? (sot - santana the defense- gril

the prosecution actually handing michael slager a tape measure, the prosecutor walking 18 feet away,tance between slager and scott when slager opened fire. the prosecutor holding the tape behind him, turning around and again asking michael slager how walter scott was a threat to his life from that position. and his defense later said that his brain was spaghetti. before the video started rolling they had had a scuffle and walter scott apparently got a hold of his taser and was threatening him with it. he said he simply reacted according to his training and opened fire. we're expecting closing arguments later today and potentially jury deliberations later in the afternoon. >> boris helpful insight and information. we'll check back with you. thank you very much. >>> the raging wild fires in tennessee have turned deadly. and, there are several families that are still looking for missing loved ones in many of these areas closed off because the fire is just raging thousands of acres, more than 15,000 scorched. cnn meteorologist jennifer gray live in gatlinburg with the latest. this seems

michael slager looked into the jury'syeld theth startering awaltertt in t green shirt, he felt id his >> i fired until t opped, like i'm trained to do. >> reporter: scott was unarmed, and is clearly seen inhis ce phone video runninaway. prosecutors say it was murder, and up and ler hold aap show jus how far scott ran. a whole 18 fbelage starteooting. be heonrecording. >> and i saw that taser coming atme, comingikmethis. >>orter: butow aitsthatcott did it. people in the courtroom shook their ger hes sruggled to explain this -- why he picked up the taser from this location and moved it closer to scott's dead by. >> was it cause was policing my gear? i can't even answetohat. >> reporter: sors he wasn't trying to buidence. ode ce worked, they don't believe him. david? >> steve, thankyou. >>> and there is a new tnhis evg ce of the missing mother, found alive, eks laterncalifornia, bound and left by the sif the road. heusbandpe t abcewsab and tonig, authorities now reveingo abc that she was branded. and that whoever did it might have been tryingo send a ssage. >> it could be a message toer,

there was emotional testimony today in charleston, south carolina, when former police officer, michael slager, took the stand in his own defense. he is charged with murdering walter scott, a man he had just pulled over for a broken tail >> reporter: michael slager's voice cracked at times as he described the events that led up to the death of walter scott 19 months ago. >> reporter: a day that gab with this routine traffic stop. >> your license and insurance card. >> reporter: and ended after a gunfire. it was captured on cell phone video by someone passing by. >> i was tired. >> reporter: slager's argument is self-defense. >> i was on the fight, on the ground. mr. scott was coming after me with the taser twice. you know, my mind-- i don't-- my mind was like spaghetti. >> reporter: prosecutor bruce dur ant. >> from watching the video, sir, do you concede at the time you shot mr. scott he did not have your taser? >> yes, after learning lingering questions is what slager may have picked up and dropped near scott's body. >> i don't remember dropping the taser. i don't remember anything. >> well,

on tuesday former south carolina police officer michael slager took the stand in his own defense. he's accused of gunning down walter scott, the last year. nbc's gabe gutierrez has details. >> reporter: this bystander's dramatic cell phone video last year appeared to showalter scott being shot in the back multiple times. >> i was scared. >> reporter: in a charleston, south carolina, courtroom the former officer accused of scott's murder gave his first detailed public account of what happened. >> i fired until the threat was stopped, like i'm trained to do. >> reporter: michael slager said broken taillight in april of 2015 and was preparing to write him a warning but scott bolted from his car. >> in my mind at that time, people don't run from a broken taillight. >> reporter: prosecutors say scott fled because he was behind on child support payments and feared being arrested. slager told the jury he fired his taser three times but that didn't stop scott from grabbing the stun gun. >> it was total fear that mr. scott didn't stop. >> reporter: the cell phone encounter seconds later as

michael slater testified in his defense is accused in the mother of walter scott in april 2015, michael slager he pulled them over for broken tail light, then ran, aid he found his stun gun and the rest of the four scott brok away that's when michael slager says he did what he was trained to do shooting scott to end the threat. >> a judge says that he wants the man accused in the shooting and killing of nine and a south carolina church to talk to him directly in court not through the judge granted the motion of july moved to represent himself in his trial, the police say that dome roof opened fire inside of a charleston church back in june 2015, so for about ten potential jurors have been chosen what 70 are picked that will be whittled down to 12 and six alternates. two high-ranking american officials are going to kill her for the fidel castro cuba, earnest says a high-ranking presidential visor and the top diplomat to kill that will represent united states says is not part of a formal delegation meanwhile, castro's ashes will be at the ministry of defense till tomorrow before they're sent to

prosecutor scarlet wilson. >> what michael slager did to walter scott was wrong. it was flag out wrong. >> reporter: it was an everyday traffic stop last april. >> your license and registration, sir. >> reporter: slager pulled over scott for a broken taillight. scott suddenly ran. slager chased him. phone video recorded by a passerby, the white officer shot the fleeing black suspect five times in the back. one bullet entered scott's heart. >> the charge in this case is murder. >> reporter: slager's jury, 11 of them white, one black, will hear his claim of self-defense. the 34-year-old former officer says he and scott fought over the cop's stun gun moments before this cell phone video began. >> he physically and forcefully resisted to the extent that they were both fighting on the ground. >> walter's gone. but now we need justice for walter. >> reporter: anthony scott, walter's older brother, told us the video proves slager killed in cold blood. >> what goes through your head and heart when you watch the video now? >> to me it's a man being shot in the back officer.

prosecutor scarlett wilson: >> what michael slager did to walter scott was wrong. it was flat-out wrong. >> reporter: it was an everyday traffic stop last april. >> your license and insurance taillight. scott suddenly ran. slager chased him. moments later, in this cell phone video recorded by a passerby, the white officer shot the fleeing black suspect five times in the back. one bullet entered scott's heart. >> the charge in this case is murder. >> reporter: slairg's jury, 11 of them white, one black, will hear his claim of self-defense. the 34-year-old former officer says he and scott fought over the before this cell phone video began. defense attorney andy savage: >> he physically and forcefully resisted, to the can extent that they were both fighting on the ground. >> walter is gone, but now we need justice for walter. >> reporter: anthony scott, walter's older brother, told us the video proves slager killed in cold blood what goes through your head and heart when you >> to me, it's a man being shot in the back by a coward police officer. >> reporter: the court

michael slager took the stand in his own defense yesterday. abc's steve osunsami has the details. >> i made the decision to use lethal force because mr. scott never stopped. >> reporter: this former police officer took a giant risk testifying. michael slager looked into the jury's eyes and told them that at this very moment when he started firing at walter scott in the green shirt, he felt >> i fired until the threat was stopped. >> reporter: scott was unarmed and is clearly seen in the cell phone video running away. prosecutors say it was murder and made slager stand up and hold a tape ruler to show jurors how far scott ran, a whole 18 feet before slager started shooting. slager is claiming that scott grabbed his taser in a fight before the cell phone recording. >> i saw that taser coming at me, comg >> reporter: but he now admits that scott didn't run away holing it. people in the courtroom shook their heads as slager struggled to describe this, why he picked up the taser from this location and moved it closer to scott's dead body. >> was it

jericka duncan is there. >> reporter: michael slager's voice cracked at times as he months ago. >> i did. >> reporter: a day that began with this routine traffic stop. >> your license and insurance card. >> reporter: and ended after a chase and scuffle and a burst of gunfire. video by someone passing by. >> i was tired. >> reporter: slager's argument is self-defense. >> i was on the fight, on the ground. mr. scott was coming after me with the taser twice. you know, my mind-- i don't-- my mind was like spaghetti. >> reporter: prosecutor bruce durant. >> from watching the video, sir, do you concede at the time you shot mr. scott he did not have your taser? >> yes, after learning information now, i do. >> reporter: one of the dropped near scott's body. >> i don't remember dropping the taser. i don't remember anything. >> we need justice for walter. >> reporter: scott's brother, anthony, says the video leaves no doubt. >> to me, it's a man being shot in the back by a coward police officer. >> reporter: slager used his r now, the scott family was in tho courtroom as slager testified. the

in south carolina, officer michael slager taking the stand in his own defense, charged in the shooting death of driver walter scott, after a routine traffic stop. here's abc's steve osunsami. >> i made the decision to use lethal force, because mr. scott never stopped. >> reporter: this former police officer took a giant risk testifying. michael slager looked into the jury's eyes and told them that at this very moment, when he started firing at walter scott in the green shirt, he felt afraid for his life. >> i fired until the threat was stopped, like i'm trained to do. >> reporter: scott was unarmed, and is clearly seen in this cell phone video running away. prosecutors say it was murder, and made slager stand up and hold a tape ruler to show jurors how far scott ran. a whole 18 feet before slager started shooting. before the cell phone recording. >> and i saw that taser coming at me, coming at me like this. >> reporter: but he now admits that scott didn't run away holding it. people in the courtroom shook their heads as slager struggled to explain this -- why he picked up the taser fro

officer michael slager abuot the moment he opened fire on walter scott. this video of this incident made national headlines because you see scott-- in the green shirt... running away from officer slager. the cop says scott took his taser from him. sot: "and i saw that taser coming at me..coming at me like this." (butted with) "i fired until the threat was stopped, like i'm trained to do." scott was 18 feet away when prosecutors are calling it murder. if convicted, slager could get 30 years in prison. breaking right now... the national weather service has confirmed a tornado touched down near atlanta . this is a live look in the area right now... this is after severe weather ripped through the south overnight... right now there is also a ground stop in place at atlanta's hartsfield-jackson airport due to severe thunderstorms, a tornado watch a tornado watch also was issued for more than 50 counties in georgia 0-:3 there's the tornado right there...let's go let's go... overnight deadly tornadoes ripped through the south.... at least 23 tornadoes touched down

cellphone video shows 34-year-old michael slager shooting walter scott eight times after he fled a traffic stop in south carolina. slager is facing 30 this morning.. the country music association is being accused of giving into racism. fans say the c-m-a awards' social media account ?intentionally? deleted posts about beyonce's award show performance - after receiving racist comments. u-s-a today reports that once word got out - the c-m-a started to include photos of the performance in new posts. the association has also released a has also released a statement saying they never erased any mentions never erased any mentions of beyonce's performance. revealing the details of her alleged sexual harassment by her former boss - roger ailes. in kelly's upcoming book "settle for more" - she says ailes offered to advance her career in exchange for sexual favors.. and allegedly implied he would not renew her contract when she refused his advances. kelly also writes about one instance when ailes attempted to grab and kiss her multiple times. the book is scheduled for release on november 15-th. harv

>> i did. >> michael slager's voice cracked at times as he described the events that led to the death of walter scott 19 months ago. >> it is the only thing i could see. is that taser coming at me. i see that barrel, like this big, coming at me. >> reporter: a day that began with this routine traffic stop. and ended after a chase and scuffle in a burst of gunfire. it was captured on cell phone >> reporter: slager's argument is self defense. >> i was in a fight on the ground. mr. scott was coming after me with the taser twice. in my mind, my mind was like spaghetti. >> reporter: prosecutor bruce durant. >> from watching the video, sir, do you concede at the time that you shot mr. scott he did not have your taser? >> yes, after learning information now, i do. >> reporter: one of the lingering qu slager may have picked up and dropped near scott's body. >> i don't remember dropping the taser. i don't remember anything. >> you have a pretty clear recollection of what went on here. seems like you are not remembering the thing that are bad for you. >> we need justice for walter. >> reporter: