Trevor Dooley takes stand in own defense in death of neighbor, David James

TAMPA - After nearly a week of testimony, Trevor Dooley took the stand Monday morning to defend himself against manslaughter charges. He is charged in the 2010 death of his neighbor, David James.

Right away, his defense team tried to paint Dooley, 71, as somewhat physically meek, bringing up his health issues, multiple surgeries and injuries.

The prosecution looked on disinterested at times. But everyone's interest would be peaked when the gun was produced in the courtroom and the questions turned to the events of that day, September 26th, 2010.

An argument erupted at a basketball court in a Valrico neighborhood over a teen skateboarding on the court. It would end with a shot being fired and the death of David James. Dooley recounted the moments and fight that led up to James' death…

“He said, ‘He shot me.’ And then he was up there for maybe five, ten seconds and then he collapsed on top of me,” Dooley testified.

The prosecution was expected to cross-examine Dooley later in the day.