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Key Testimony Heard In Lawlor Trial

Brandon Henry Takes Stand

POSTED: 4:57 pm EST November 17, 2009
UPDATED: 6:58 pm EST November 17, 2009

Key testimony was heard in court on Tuesday at the trial of a former Hartford police officer. Robert Lawlor is charged with manslaughter, accused of killing one man and wounding a second. On Tuesday, the survivor took the stand as the jury finally heard from Brandon Henry.

He was driving the car on May 7, 2005, and was shot along with Jashon Bryant. He said he and Bryant spent the day drinking, smoking marijuana and selling crack before stopping at a North End Market.

He said two police officers approached his car. He said Lawlor drew his weapon.

Henry was polite and somewhat matter-of-fact about the day he was shot and his best friend was killed. He said there was no gun in the car, but that he was worried that Lawlor and the ATF agent he was with that night would find his stash of crack cocaine and send him back to jail. With Lawlor standing on Bryant’s side of the car, Henry looked for a chance to run.

Henry said, “He took out his cell phone and started to dial so I saw a chance to flee and all in one motion I turned the key, put it in gear and pulled off and I just started hearing gunshots. Pop, pop, pop.”

Lawlor fired five times.

He faces assault charges for striking Henry in the chest and manslaughter charges for the shot to the head that killed Bryant instantly. Henry said the fleeing car hit Main Street as he realized Bryant was in trouble.

Henry said, “The car was shaking, and I looked over at him and he was just sitting back in his seat. I was shaking him, calling his name.” Lawlor said he saw a gun that night, but no gun was ever found.

Henry told the jusy he would rather have served 100 years in jail if he knew what would happen when he tried to get away.

Henry is currently in jail on an unrelated weapons charge.

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