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Ann Zarras (Police photo)
A Wayne County jury on Tuesday found an 18-year-old Livonia woman not guilty in the 2016 shooting of her boyfriend, who remains in a coma.
Her lawyer, Henry Scharg, in post-trial comments to Deadline Detroit, accused the Livonia police of using interrogation tactics "just short of water boarding." Livonia Police and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond for comment.
Following a six-day trial and one hour of deliberations, jurors acquitted Ann Zarras of intent to do great bodily harm, less than murder, felonious assault and one gun charge. Her father is a retired Livonia Police officer and her mother works for the Metro Detroit Airport police.
Her dad's .22-caliber gun was used in the shooting.
Zarras was arrested last June after Nathan Robertson was shot inside her home in the 15000 block of Richfield St. near Newburgh and 5 Mile Road. Robertson lived there since getting kicked out of his parents' home in 2015.
The defendant told detectives the gun fired accidentally during a struggle.
“I do not believe I intentionally pulled the trigger,” she said in a video of a police interview played in court. Zarras' parents were not home at the time.
Scharg, her attorney, tells Deadline Detroit that Robertson had pulled out the gun the previous night and threatened to commit suicide. The following morning, Robertson pulled out the gun again.
The lawyer says Zarras may have been trying to take the gun away when a struggle ensued and the gun discharged, striking Robertson in the middle of the forehead.
Attorney Henry Scharg
Zarras, who was a Wayne State University student on summer break, called 911. Police described her as being visibly upset, hyperventilating and in shock. She was taken to the police station, where Scharg says detectives suggested different scenarios to explain the shooting.
"In 40 years, it was the most outrageous interrogation I've ever seen," Scharg said. "And it was all on video."
He said detectives also had a female officer photograph her naked even though she gave no indication she had any bruises or any other injuries. Police said they did so for her benefit to see if she suffered any bruises or injuries during the confrontation.
Scharg claims the photos were circulated around the department.
