Miami

Trial Against Girlfriend of Slain Miami Cop Begins

Opening statements were delivered Tuesday in the trial of a woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Miami Police Officer Carl Patrick.

Tiniko Thompson is charged with second-degree murder for the 2014 shooting death of Patrick. Thompson appeared in court Tuesday as the prosecution presented its case.

At times, the defendant appeared agitated as prosecutor Shari Tate detailed what the state calls deadly webs of deceit.

Months before the murder, Thompson told everyone she was pregnant with Patrick's baby. It's a lie she told for 13 months in text messages with friends and pictures of a supposed pregnant belly, prosecutors said.

"The defendant takes an ultrasound picture of a baby, goes to dinner with the elderly mother of Carl Patrick. You're going to be a grandma. You're going to have a little girl, this is your granddaughter. This is Victoria," said Tate.

Patrick found out the truth in May of 2014. That's when there was an argument at his Pembroke Pines home and prosecutors say Thompson killed Patrick with his own service weapon.

The officer suffered a gunshot wound to the arm which prosecutors say he could have survived.

"He still had a minute or more to live, to get up, to walk around, to go to the bathroom to get help...unless someone prevented it and unless nobody else made that call for him," Tate said.

The state says for 48 hours after the shooting Thompson showed no regard while Patrick laid on his bedroom floor. She allegedly left and returned to Patrick's home at least five times.

Prosecutors say Thompson wrapped the victim's body in a sheet and burned sage over it to cover up the smell of decomposition.

Thompson, however, says the fatal shooting was in self-defense, claiming she was a victim of domestic abuse. In the defense's opening arguments, the attorney took shots at Patrick for believing a 13-month pregnancy. Thompson had a hysterectomy 19 years ago.

"He knew she wasn't pregnant or that the dumbest man in the world thinking a woman can be pregnant as long as an elephant," defense attorney Roderick Vereen said.

The defense argued that the fight was over Thompson spending $10,000 using Patrick's credit card. Defense attorneys also say Patrick was engaged in aggravated assault, claiming there was a struggle with the gun.

"Her DNA was under his fingernails. On the grips and the trigger the DNA belongs to him, not her," said Vereen.

The prosecution says it will wrap its case next Tuesday. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

If convicted, Thompson faces life in prison.

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