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Detroit-area man who shot woman on porch to face murder trial

Posted at 1:51 PM, Dec 19, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-19 13:51:10-05

(CNN) — A Detroit-area man who claimed he accidentally shot and killed a 19-year-old woman he thought was breaking into his home will stand trial on a charge of second-degree murder, a judge ruled Thursday.

District Court Judge David Turfe said there was enough probable cause for Theodore Paul Wafer, 54, to stand trial in connection with the November 2 shooting of Renisha McBride, who authorities say was intoxicated and possibly disoriented following a car crash before Wafer shot her on his Dearborn Heights porch.

Wafer’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 15.

Wafer was charged with second-degree murder last month after days of pressure from McBride’s relatives seeking an arrest.

He also was charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

McBride was unarmed and there was no evidence of a break-in, so Wafer — who authorities say shot McBride from behind a closed, locked screen door — cannot lawfully claim he needed to shoot her to stop an imminent threat, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy told reporters last month.

“I am saying we do not believe he acted in lawful self-defense,” Worthy said.