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Daughter's interview played in 'Stand Your Ground' hearing

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The deposition of the then 12-year-old daughter of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent who was shot and killed in 2008 is played during the "Stand Your Ground" hearing for the 69-year-old man accused of shooting him.

In the video, Gabriella Petit, the daughter of Donald Petit, showed police how her father gave James Wonder the finger as he drove next to them. Gabriella Petit said Wonder was erratically changing lanes.

According to Petit's testimony, Wonder pulled into the parking lot of the post office at Pines Boulevard and Dykes Road in Pembroke Pines. She said her father then pulled into the parking lot, too.

"'Do you have to drop off mail?' And, he's like, 'No, I just need to talk to this guy,'" Petit said in the deposition.

Defense attorneys say Petit, who was off-duty at the time, was the aggressor, and that he never identified himself as a law enforcement officer.

On Thursday, a witness told the judge she saw Petit driving into the parking lot. She said he was speeding, driving erratically, and appeared angry.

"I say, 'What's wrong with this son-of-a-b****. He's driving like a maniac," said the witness.

Petit testified that her father pulled up to Wonder, who was already out of his car, and got out.

"I heard him (Donald Petit) say, 'Who do you think you are, slick?'" said Petit.

Petit then heard the gunshot. Prosecutors said Wonder shot Petit in the head with a .40 caliber handgun and then drove away.

"I went around my dad's car and he was bleeding from the head," said Petit.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry. Did he say anything to you?" said the attorney.

"My dad?" asked Petit. She then shook her head no.

A judge will decide if Wonder will face a jury on manslaughter charges. The charge of manslaughter with a deadly weapon carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.


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