In a long day of testimony on Saturday, Markeith Loyd — who is accused of killing Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton in January 2017 — took the stand in his own defense.

Loyd is already serving life in prison for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon. He could face the death penalty if convicted in this trial.

At one point during his nearly-four hours of testimony, Loyd described his account of a shootout with Lt. Clayton, after someone at an Orlando Walmart tipped Clayton off that Loyd was at the store. Police were on a manhunt for Loyd several weeks after he shot and killed Dixon.

As his attorney held a picture of the Walmart parking lot, Loyd pointed to where he was and where Lt. Clayton was – saying it was Lt. Clayton who fired at him first. Loyd testified he was trying to defend himself. 

“She firing, I’m firing, she falls and she still firing and my visual was more at her arm – her gun hand – I’m trying to stay away from her gun hand and when she dropped the gun hand, I stopped shooting,” said Loyd.

A prosecutor asked Loyd why he walked over to Clayton and kept shooting her, even after she was critically wounded and on the ground.

“You want to say I stood over her and finished her off – that’s a lie, Mr. Ryan – Debra was still alive when I left,” said Loyd.

Defense attorneys are trying to prove Loyd is mentally ill, and believed police were out to kill him.

Loyd recalled his childhood, saying his mother beat him when he didn’t go to church, he was kidnapped and beaten by a group of people in his neighborhood and he was admitted to a mental hospital as a teenager. 

Loyd said he is not mentally ill, but a clinical and forensic psychologist who evaluated Loyd testified Saturday that Loyd suffers from several psychotic disorders, including brain damage. 

The psychologist further said those disorders affected Loyd’s judgment.

“So while Mr. Loyd knew what he was doing, he didn’t know it was wrong,” said Dr. Jethro Toomer.

Loyd said he does not believe in harming anyone, except when it’s in self-defense.

“Just because you wear a badge doesn’t mean you have the right to kill me,” said Loyd.  “You all do that too often, you don’t have the right to kill me – I’m not going for that, I’m not.”

The jury is sequestered at a hotel, so the judge chose to have the jury hear testimony on Saturday to maximize their time and keep the trial moving. Court is in recess on Sunday, but testimony will resume on Monday.

The jury could get the case to deliberate on Tuesday.

If convicted, Loyd could face the death penalty if jurors unanimously decide that should be his punishment.

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