Jury Deliberates in Transgender Beating Trial

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The fate of a former Memphis Police officer now lies in the hands of a jury after closing arguments were delivered Wednesday in the trial of Bridges McRae, accused of violating the civil rights of the late-transgender Duanna Johnson during a beating caught on tape.

He has been surrounded outside court by friends and family for more than week. But, as a federal jury pondered his fate beginning Wednesday afternoon, former Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae only sought the support provided by prayer.

"I have peace in God. He gives me strength. That's who I rely on."

The 9th day of McRae's trial on one count of violating the civil rights of the late transgender Duanna Johnson began with federal prosecutor Jonathan Skrmetti's summation of the case against the 30-year old.

Standing before the 5 men, 7 women jury, Skrmetti reviewed the testimonies of 10 prosecution witnesses honing in on 5 of them who were eyewitnesses to McRae's alleged beating of Johnson, graphically captured on surveillance tape at the Shelby County Jail in February 2008.

Skrmetti emphasized all the witnesses agreed they saw no legitimate law enforcement purpose for McRae to punch Johnson in the head with handcuffs to gain compliance in securing a thumbprint during the booking process.

Later during the rebuttal, veteran Assistant District Attorney Steve Parker referred to McRae as a "bully with a badge." He called McRae's testimony that he fought Johnson in self-defense after he became afraid for his own safety simply a "lie."

Parker argued McRae deliberately taunted Johnson by not referring to her by the name "Duanna." Parker asked the jury to deliver a guilty verdict in the face of testimony from the five eyewitnesses and the 52-second tape which has been the focal point of the trial throughout.

In his final argument before the jury, McRae's defense counsel Frank Trapp dramatically bashed a pair of handcuffs on a book six times to simulate the number of blows McRae was seen on the tape hitting Johnson with. But, Trapp asserted it was a prosecution "myth" that Johnson suffered serious injuries.

Trapp also referred to the assumed victim as a known "Drama Queen" who could have easily complied with McRae's orders instead of disobeying them. Trapp also tried to impugn the testimony of two of the eyewitnesses, including two police officers who he said refused to side with McRae's account of what happened. After court, I ask Trapp why he alleged their testimony consisted of "scripted stories" in which each called the incident a "beatdown" and not a fight.

"Well, I wouldn't want to talk about that outside court, particularly while we're waiting for a jury," replied Trapp.

As jury deliberations began, it was another of Trapp's summation statements which seemed to sum up not only his defense, but the prosecution's as well: "The video is what it is."