Minutes into his trial, Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump, got cut off by the judge for veering off topic.”Modern trials seem to eliminate all that is human,” Routh, who is defending himself, told jurors as he began his opening remarks on Thursday.He opened with a “history” of human existence, but was cut off within minutes by Judge Aileen Cannon who excused the jury and told Routh he had to restrict his comments to the case. Routh agreed and apologized, but the judge again cut him off when he resumed, instructing Routh that his opening remarks were over.For the prosecution, attorney John Shipley Jr said in his opening that by trying to assassinate Trump in the midst of the 2024 election, Routh “decided to take the choice away from the American people,” Cellphone data, security footage, a handwritten note by Routh stating an intention to kill Trump, plus eyewitness testimony would prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, Mr Shipley said. The US Secret Service agent, who testified that he discovered a man hiding on the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, was the first government witness to take the stand.In court, Robert Fercano identified the man he discovered last year through a shrub-covered fence as Routh, who sat alone watching from the defense table wearing a gray blazer and blue tie. Mr Fercano testified that while patrolling the area near the sixth hole of the golf course, he saw a face, armored plates, and what appeared to be the muzzle of an AK-style weapon poking through the fence.After calling, “Hey, sir,” Mr Fercano realized a weapon was pointed at him, and called for backup while moving away.Jurors heard audio of Mr Fercano radioing …
