Murder Trial Of Former Cop Delayed Briefly After Possible 'Jury Tainting'

The murder trial of former Tulsa Police Officer Shannon Kepler was briefly delayed Monday morning while the judge and attorneys discussed something that may have been overheard by jurors Friday afternoon.

Jurors are said to have heard a conversation while riding in an elevator where someone said "cop is guilty." News On 6 reports that a man heard the remark and reported it to Kepler's attorney, Richard Carroll, as possible jury tainting.

That man said two jurors were in the elevator and other jury members may have been as well.

The judge warned jurors to not comment and to not listen to others' comments about the case.

Kepler's trial resumed after the brief delay with more testimony from victim Jeremey Lake's brother. While on the stand, he said he could see a dark figure with a mustache firing the shots, but the defense tried to undermine his ID of Kepler.

Kepler's attorney is pushing both a self-defense argument - that Kepler felt threatened before firing the fatal shots - and he's questioned whether other witnesses really were able to identify him at the scene.

11/4/2016 Related Story: Daughter Testifies Against Former Tulsa Police Officer Charged With Murder

Monday, the district attorney said Lisa Kepler's testimony last Friday was the key testimony from his side. She is the adopted daughter of Shannon Kepler and was dating the victim. Friday, she clearly identified her father as the shooter.

Prosecutors said they have several more witnesses to call before wrapping up their case.

The defense said it plans to put Kepler on the stand to defend himself against the murder charge and two counts of shooting with intent to kill.

They say as many as five shots were fired, but Lake was hit twice - other bullets went in the direction of two witnesses, but the defense has set up a story line that those were simply stray shots and not intended to hit other people.

Kepler is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of shooting with intent to kill in the death of Jeremey Lake in downtown Tulsa in August 2014.

Kepler has pleaded not guilty to all counts. His attorney admits Kepler shot the 19-year-old Lake but says it was in self-defense.