CLEVELAND — The murder trial of Tirrell Edwards wrapped up Friday in downtown Cleveland and the case is now in the hands of the jury, hours after Edwards took the stand in his defense, arguing he shot and killed his fiancé Amanda Williams in self-defense.
“I just shot rapidly. I was scared. She had me so scared with that knife,” Edwards told attorneys on the final day of the trial in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Edwards said he and Amanda started dating in 2017. He moved into her home in 2019 and they became engaged in 2022. Edwards described their relationship as “pretty good” before October 9, 2023. That’s when an argument over phone texts boiled over.
He said Amanda cancelled his phone line. That night, things escalated when Edwards says Amanda asked him to leave the house.
“She’s coming out of my closet with a whole bunch of clothes and she’s throwing them all over the floor and telling me to get out,” he testified.
Edwards said he intended to leave, and even removed his guns from his nightstand and put them in his car after he said she commented that “if you do stay here tonight, you’re going to have to sleep with one eye open.”
He said when he came back in the house, Amanda grabbed a kitchen knife and held him in their room. Prosecutors didn’t buy that. Edwards also claimed he was attempting to deescalate the situation but prosecutors argued Amanda didn’t know he had the gun and he gave her no warning before opening fire.
Edwards says he got a hold of Amanda’s gun on her side of the bed as he was trying to get away from her and the knife. He testified he had only two choices: get stabbed or shoot.
“I’m trying to run to get away. That’s when she cut me off and she lunged at me with the knife. I had no other choice,” he said.
Edwards shot Amanda six times, including at least once in the back, according to the medical examiner. Defense attorneys said within a minute he called 911. Edwards testified he didn’t render aid because he thought she was dead and he didn’t know how to provide aid.
Edwards got emotional as prosecutors pressed him on why he didn’t allow Amanda’s grown daughter Tyler to see her mom and help her.
“She kept on trying to get over there. I didn’t want her to see her mom like that,” he said.
The case is now in the hands of the jurors, who are expected to begin deliberations on Monday.
Previous Coverage of Edwards Trial:
- Day 3 of Tirrell Edwards murder trial: Jurors shown footage of suspect's interrogation, cell phone video from night of Amanda Williams' death
- Day 2 of Tirrell Edwards murder trial wraps: Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner takes stand
- Murder of Amanda Williams in Warrensville Heights: Trial begins for suspect Tirrell Edwards