The man on trial for killing his ex-wife’s new husband took the stand Wednesday in a Miami-Dade County courtroom.
Cristobal Palacio, 46, is accused of killing Paul Winter four years ago in Palacio's Kendall driveway. In the last day of his trial on Wednesday, Palacio described why he shot the man.
"He comes out like he’s so pissed, angry, I mean, you could see the veins,” Palacio said. “I hadn't done nothing to this guy. He starts coming at me."
Through tears, Palacio told the jury he acted in self-defense and was afraid Winter was going to kill him.
"He was running at me and he looked like he was coming with a gun,” Palacio said about his wife’s new husband, re-enacting the moment in court. “I shot him. He was coming running, pulling his gun."
Once he shot him, Palacio said, "I just see him go like this, his knees buckle and he went down to the ground."
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The fatal Kendall shooting happened in Palacio's Kendall driveway when Paul and Jennifer Winter dropped off the children she shared with her ex. The then-6-year-old twins saw the alleged crime from their mother’s van.
"I come out, pull the gun, and as soon as I got it out, I started firing because I wanted him to stop,” Palacio said. “So as soon as I pulled it out, I started firing."
Palacio told the court he thought Winter was reaching for a gun, but he was not armed. Palacio, who shot him six times, said that although he regrets what happened, he felt like he had no other option.
One week ago, the woman caught in the middle took the stand. Jennifer Winter said her husband was shot in cold blood and not in self-defense.
"He walked up to my husband after he was laying face down and he shot him more in the back," she said.
Jurors will be given their instructions Thursday morning and will then begin deliberations.
