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Hancock [the male driver] said the 45-year-old Kim [the male passenger] made unwanted sexual advances and attacked him when Hancock threatened to pull over during the June 1, 2018 ride.

Prosecutors said Hancock stopped the car, went to the front passenger side where Kim was sitting and fired 10 bullets from his semi-automatic handgun. At least five struck Kim.

Hancock, who was not seriously injured, then put a knife in Kim's hand to get his fingerprints on it, authorities said.

Hancock testified that he kept the knife under his seat and put it in Kim's hand to see if he was still alive.[lmao yeah right]

The fatal ride began after Hancock picked up Kim at a karaoke bar. Kim's original destination was 2 miles away.

Surveillance video showed Hancock's car arriving at that location. But Kim -- who was drunk -- did not get out of the car.

Uber records showed that by the time the shooting occurred, the car had traveled about 70 miles from the spot where Kim was picked up.
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Prosecutors said it was possible Kim did not get out at his original destination because he passed out and Hancock drove around to increase the fare.

Kim punched the driver in the face and reached for the steering wheel and ignition, Stuart told jurors in her closing argument.

Hancock tried to jump out of his still-rolling car, but Kim attempted to pull him back by his dreadlocks, prompting Hancock to grab his gun, Stuart said.

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The prosecutors also acknowledged there was a fight inside the car, and it was probably started by Kim, possibly after he woke up startled and was upset about being driven around in the car.

Hancock had swelling above his eyebrow after the killing, according to police photographs.

Kim had bruises on his right hand, autopsy photos showed. However, prosecutors said Hancock's injury was not serious enough for him to have reasonably feared for his life.

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Prosecutors did not offer a motive.

Stuart said Hancock worked as an Uber driver to supplement his modest income from his job at a youth group home and drove at night to avoid missing family time.

She told jurors it did not make sense that he would throw his life away by killing Kim for no reason.

thibodeaux wrote: .wouldn't you drive in a loop near where you're gonna need to drop the guy off?

thibodeaux wrote: Stuart said Hancock worked as an Uber driver to supplement his modest income from his job at a youth group home and drove at night to avoid missing family time.

Leisher wrote: Call me crazy, but if he exited the car, he was no longer in immediate danger.

thibodeaux wrote:

Leisher wrote: Call me crazy, but if he exited the car, he was no longer in immediate danger.

BTW, that is the exact situation that "stand your ground" addresses. Most people (thanks to media) think "stand your ground" means you can kill someone in self-defense, and in the absence of "stand your ground" laws you're not allowed to kill in self-defense (I guess you just have to let the "teen" beat your ass to death). It actually means you do NOT have a "duty to retreat." Duty to retreat means that if you can get away from the person threatening you, you MUST attempt to do that before using deadly force in self-defense.

Overall, yes, IMO this guy is extremely lucky he beat the rap.