PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- Former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson has taken the stand and will testify at his own murder trial.

That comes after an expert on use of force by police spent all Friday testifying how he felt Grayson wasn't justified when he shot a woman last summer.

Grayson, 31, is on trial for first-degree murder in connection with the July 6, 2024, shooting of Sonya Massey in her Springfield home. He faces decades behind if convicted.

Sangamon County Judge Ryan Cadagin -- the trial was moved to Peoria County due to pretrial press -- denied a defense motion for a directed verdict. Such a motion states that no reasonable jury could find a person guilty of the charge based upon the evidence so far.

Such motions are routinely denied so it wasn't out of the norm.

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