Jury to begin deliberations in police officer killing trial

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) A jury in northeast Georgia is set to begin its deliberations Monday in the trial of a man accused of killing a police officer in Athens and wounding a second officer.

Prosecutors in the trial of Jamie Hood on Saturday wrapped up their closing arguments. District Attorney Ken Mauldin said Hood shot the two officers because he didn't want to return to prison.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports that Hood told jurors that he never wanted to kill anyone, but heard his dead brother telling him to ``kill or be killed'' when opening fire on the officers. Hood is representing himself in the trial.

Hood faces the death penalty in the 2011 slaying of Athens-Clarke County Officer Elmer "Buddy'' Christian III.