By Lawrence Buser
Originally published 05:37 p.m., March 29, 2011
Updated 10:34 p.m., March 29, 2011
Yes, Tucson Biggs shot his former girlfriend eight times, but it was in self-defense, his attorney told the Criminal Court jury that will decide the capital murder case that began Tuesday.
The shooting occurred the night of Dec. 14, 2007, when the 35-year-old defendant was trying to break off his relationship with Angela Baker, who was angry and insisted he owed her money, said defense attorney Claiborne Ferguson.
"He was doing everything he could to stay away from her," said Ferguson, adding that Baker brought two armed male relatives with her to his apartment that night. "He pulled that gun and he started shooting and shooting and shooting and trying to get away from them. He shoots her a lot of times."
Two men showed up later at separate emergency rooms with gunshot wounds, but police determined they were not involved in the incident.
State prosecutor Jennifer Morris told jurors Baker, 35, had given Biggs money for a car during their four-month relationship and that she wanted the money returned when their relationship was ending.
"He agrees to give her the money the next day, but then he decides to shoot her and dispose of the gun," Morris said. "She didn't come home that night because he decided to shoot her at least eight times. That's not self-defense. That's not an accident. That is murder."
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Biggs, a twice-convicted felon who as a juvenile shot an elderly man in the back.
The shooting occurred shortly before midnight just outside the Briar Club Apartments in Southeast Memphis where Biggs lived.
After the shooting, Biggs drove to Waco, Texas, where he called Memphis police and told them what he had done. He then turned around, drove back to Memphis and turned himself in to police.
The trial before Judge Chris Craft is expected to last about a week.
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