MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A body guard charged with murdering a prominent Northwest dog trainer has testified that he shot the man out of self-defense but didn't tell police because he thought no one would believe him.
Prosecutors on Wednesday questioned Michiel (MIKE'-al) Oakes's self-defense claim, asking why he would put himself in a vulnerable position by going to Mark Stover's home. The dog trainer is the ex-husband of Oakes's girlfriend.
Oakes has said Stover ordered him to the home to ask about wedding photos Stover believed his ex-wife still had.
Oakes says Stover became enraged when he showed up without the photos, and that the dog trainer was shot and killed by his own gun during a struggle.
Oakes says Stover shot at him, but he was saved by his bullet-resistant vest.
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