DETROIT — A Detroit police officer charged in the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl testified Thursday that he’s trained to keep his finger off the trigger, but insisted the split-second tragedy began when the victim’s grandmother grabbed his weapon during a risky midnight raid.
Joseph Weekley, charged with involuntary manslaughter, testified in his own defense, telling jurors that he remains ‘‘devastated and depressed’’ over the death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones, who was shot in the head while she slept on a couch in May 2010.
Weekley said Aiyana’s grandmother, Mertilla Jones, hit his submachine gun after a stun grenade was thrown into a house during a raid. Weekley said he pulled back and heard the shot, but at first didn’t realize it came from his gun.
The jury has three options Friday: involuntary manslaughter, a felony; a misdemeanor weapons charge; or not guilty of any crime.
‘‘All he had to do was keep his finger off the trigger,’’ prosecutor Rob Moran said. ‘‘Because of his conduct, Aiyana Jones is dead.’’