GRETNA, La. — Charged with manslaughter for shooting and killing an unarmed man, the closing arguments for two Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies have been set for Friday.
Deputies Jonathan Louis and Isaac Hughes have been accused of shooting 27 times at Daniel Vallee after he refused to step out of his car. The deputies had been responding to a noise complaint in Marrero just after 2 a.m. in February 2022.
The jury had access to body camera footage of the shooting and the moments leading up to the gunshots.
At the core of this case is whether the shooting was legal. On Thursday, Police use-of-force expert Ken Katsaris testified during the third day of the trial, that deputies had reasonable suspicion to question Vallee when they smelled marijuana as they approached his car.
According to Katsaris, the deputies did not, however, have any reason to shoot Vallee.
Legal expert Craig Mordock said Friday he was impressed by the prosecuting and defense attorneys involved in the case.
"Two of the best closing arguments I've ever heard back to back in my life," Mordock said.
Defense attorney Frank Desalvo argued Wednesday that the deputies could not see Vallee's hand or what may have been in it Deputy Edward Beck who arrived at the scene after the shooting, said he felt his colleagues did not violate laws or JPSO procedures.
If convicted, Louis, 37, and Hughes, 31, could face up to 40 years in prison.
Mordock said that a verdict should be announced by Friday night.