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Murder Defendant Testifies In Self-Defense

Ian Van Buren Charged In Shooting Death Of Jeremy Lapham

POSTED: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
UPDATED: 8:26 am CDT October 29, 2008

A man charged in a fatal shooting at a poker party told a jury that he killed a man because he feared for his life.

Ian Van Buren told jurors that he was in his pickup truck, trying to get away from Jeremy Latham, who was 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighs 320 pounds.

Latham had just smashed out a tail light and rear window with a baseball bat, when he approached Van Buren's driver-side door.

"He got right in front of my window, and I didn't know what he had," Van Buren said. "That's why I shot in his direction, because I didn't want him to get any closer to me, and I didn't want to get hit with a weapon."

Latham was shot three times and died at the scene.

He was mad at Van Buren because the defendant had poured beer on the head of a female friend at the party, trial testimony revealed.

Van Buren fled the scene but was arrested a few blocks away.

The jury may deliberate the case Tuesday afternoon.

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