Robin Johnson sat expressionless during closing arguments in her trial. The 50-year old is accused of fatally shooting Francis during the early morning hours of July 2, 2008. Francis was investigating complaints that Johnson was causing a disturbance on a CTA bus near Belmont and Western.
Investigators say Francis struggled with Johnson until she grabbed his revolver and shot him three times, then fired at four responding officers. Johnson is charged with first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder.
At issue in court Wednesday afternoon was whether Johnson intended to kill Francis. Prosecutors say Johnson was angry, hostile and violent at the time of the shooting and turned her anger toward Francis. They say she shot him once in the head and two more times after he was lying on the ground. Prosecutors say she then intended to harm the responding officers by firing a shot at them.
The defense said Johnson was confused, in distress and needed help and did not intend to kill Francis. While they did not dispute that a shot went off during a struggle between Francis and Johnson, they say surveillance video from the CTA bus taken at the time of the incident does not show Johnson grabbing Francis' gun.
Among those listening to the closing arguments in the packed courtroom were Francis' family, several members of Johnson's family and dozens of police officers.
