Toledo man testifies in own defense during murder trial

A Toledo man charged with the May murder of Raishaun Williams testified in his own defense Wednesday during the second day of his trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Kenneth Waters Jr.

Kenneth Waters, Jr., told the jury that he accidentally pulled the trigger on his 40-caliber handgun but he didn't intend to shoot Mr. Williams, who was shot once in the neck.

“I put my finger on the trigger. Boom, it went off,” he said. “It accidentally went off.”

Mr. Williams, 34, was shot in the kitchen of a home at 932 Post St. on May 12 after an encounter outside the residence involving Mr. Williams and Tyler Evans, a former girlfriend of Waters.

Waters said the victim and Miss Evans went into the house after arguing about money that he said Mr. Williams owed Miss Evans for cigarettes.

He said he followed the pair into the house because he was concerned about his ex-girlfriend's safety and wanted to protect her.

“My intent was not to purposely cause the death of Raishaun Williams,” Waters said under direct questioning from his attorney, Merle Dech.

The jury is expected to hear closing arguments Thursday. Waters, 29, of Rockingham Street, is on trial for alternative counts of murder in Mr. Williams’ homicide.

Miss Evans testified Tuesday she was talking to Mr. Williams when she saw Waters walk through the back door, reached up with a gun in his hand, and then saw him shoot the victim.

Jennifer Liptack-Wilson, an assistant county prosecutor, asked Waters if he was angry because he saw the victim and Miss Evans flirting outside the home.

Waters told the prosecutor that he was not upset that the pair had been talking.

Contact Mark Reiter at markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.