COLUMBUS, Ohio — The murder trial of a former Columbus police vice squad officer began Tuesday with opening statements and the playing of the audio recording of the incident.
Andrew Mitchell was charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection to the shooting death of 23-year-old Donna Castleberry in August 2018. The former officer was indicted on the charges in 2019.
Mitchell picked up Castleberry during an alleged prostitution sting. Columbus police said Mitchell shot and killed Castleberry after she stabbed him in the hand.
The last minutes of Castleberry’s life were captured on recording and were played publicly for the first time.
Castleberry could be heard on the recording saying, “Do not put your hands on me, no, help!” and “Please help me!"
Mitchell, who was in plain clothes, picked up Castleberry on suspicion of solicitation. The officer said he was going to check and see if she had any warrants.
Castleberry then asked Mitchell to prove he was a police officer, but he didn’t have his badge. That’s when the two fought.
After Castleberry used a knife to stab Mitchell, he then fired six shots at her.
Prosecutor Sheryl Prichard told the jury they will find every action by Castleberry was defensive as she was trying to get away.
“This is not a split-second decision. This was not an officer firing to save his life,” Prichard said.
Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens argued Mitchell was acting in self-defense due to Castleberry stabbing him first.
“Andy Mitchell believed he was under imminent threat of great bodily harm or death because he was attacked by a knife and choked to the point of almost losing consciousness,” she said.
After hearing from both sides, jurors were taken to see both Mitchell’s unmarked cruiser at impound lot and the apartment building in Franklinton where the shooting happened.
The trial is expected to last two weeks. Witness testimony will begin Wednesday.
Last year, Columbus City Council approved a settlement of more than $1 million in Castleberry's death.
Castleberry's family questioned the use of deadly force and suggested Mitchell should not have been on duty the day of the shooting because he was already the focus of a separate criminal investigation by his own department for allegedly abusing his police powers.
Mitchell is also facing federal charges for allegedly forcing women to have sex with him under the threat of an arrest, pressuring others to cover up crimes and lying to federal investigators when he said he'd never had sex with prostitutes.