BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
The man accused of killing the relative of a former Baton Rouge police chief took the stand in his own defense Thursday.
Leandre Bell is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Christopher Domingue. Domingue was the brother-in-law of former Chief Jeff LeDuff.
Bell testified Farrenton Joshua, the prosecution's star witness, shot Domingue on Roosevelt Street in December 2010.
He added he was passed out when Joshua physically carried him to his car and drove him to a party while he was asleep.
He told jurors the reason he confessed is because the victim was LeDuff's brother-in-law and police told him the chief would let him off if he confessed.
On cross examination from lead prosecutor Adam Haney, Bell said he confessed to two murders and an armed robbery because he thought the police would let him go.
He admitted he was not sure how they were going to let him go, but he thought they would. He also said he no longer trusts the police department because they didn't let him go.
Bell told the jury everyone else who testified lied on the stand and he is the only one telling the truth.
Joshua pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the case and agreed to testify against Bell.
The prosecution rested Thursday morning after calling two final witnesses to the stand.
A DNA analyst told the jury Bell's DNA was found inside one of the victim's pants pockets. In a police tape, Bell admitted rummaging through Domingue's pants looking for money.
Also, a firearms expert testified slugs retrieved from Domingue's body matched the gun recovered from the house in which Bell was found.
The defense rested around 2:30 p.m.
Tonight on 9News at 5 and 6, WAFB's Jim Shannon will have the details on what the defense said and what will happen next.
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Leandre Bell (Source: East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office)
Christopher Jason Domingue
