Defense rests in Antwan Mims trial

NOW: Defense rests in Antwan Mims trial
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BERRIEN COUNTY. Mich.--- The defense rested its case in the trial of Antwan Mims on Thursday. Mims chose to testify before jurors and spent more than five hours on the witness stand.

Mims told jurors that Cortez Miller and Michael Johnson were the aggressors prior to their fatal shooting in March of 2018.

"I didn't bother nobody, I didn't go looking for it. I didn't want it. I tried to avoid it," Mims said.

Mims claimed that he was warned of Johnson's alleged ill will towards him by Johnson's girlfriend prior to the shooting. 

"She texted me and she told me 'He’s seen me tell you he jumped on me, he’s talking about what he’s going to do to you. Watch your back,'" Mims told jurors.

Mims also claimed that Johnson was also carrying a gun the night of the shooting. However, that claim has been disputed by deputies as no weapons were recovered from the scene. 

Mims told jurors that he even left a party he was attending the night of the shooting, to avoid Miller and Johnson.

"I left Crystal Square to avoid them dudes," Mims said. "I went to where I be at every day to avoid them. I didn’t want no smoke."

Following Mims's testimony, the defense rested its case. Closing arguments are scheduled to be given Friday morning. 

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