Jury deliberations begin in trial of officer charged with murder

The jury in the James Ashby trial began deliberations Wednesday. They went home without reaching a verdict at around 5:30 p.m. and will resume deliberations on Thursday morning at 8:30.

The prosecution and the defense presented their closing arguments earlier in the day.

The former Rocky Ford Police Officer is charged with second-degree murder in the October 2014 shooting death of Jack Jacquez, 27.

Ashby told investigators he thought Jacquez was a burglar and was armed with a bat when he shot him. He said he fired his gun in self defense.

Ashby’s account was contradicted by a man doing a police ride-a-long with him and forensic evidence showing that Jacquez was shot in the back while moving away from the officer.

James Ashby was fired from the Rocky Ford Police Department. His trial is taking place at the Otero County courthouse in La Junta.