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Jul 17, 2009 12:18 am US/Eastern
Tape Released Of Teen Accused In Father's Murder
The Tape Is An Interview With Detectives Hours After The Shooting
SOUTH MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Jason Beckman is charged with manslaughter in his father's death.
Miami-Dade Corrections/CBS
Jason Beckman, 17, says he accidentally shot his father, South Miami City Commissioner Jay Beckman on Easter Sunday, as the elder Beckman showered, according to a court-released hour long interview with a detective. Court-released pictures show blood spattered on the walls of Beckman's bathroom.
Jason Beckman has said it was an accident since he made the call to 911 dispatchers.
"I accidentally shot my father. He was taking a bath and you know, he was going to show me how to use a gun so we can go hunting you know, this summer, and I was showing him that I had it and I accidentally pulled the trigger. I thought the safety switch was on, please help me," Beckman said in a high-pitched voice.
Now, CBS4 News has obtained a video copy of a Miami-Dade Police interview with Jason Beckman just hours after the shooting.
Beckman has an emotional disorder and he talked a lot about his turbulent relationship with his dad.
"He was very violent and unstable, I don't think he meant to be but he was clearly not in control of his actions at times and I was afraid that one day he would hurt me badly. But recently things had been improving," said Beckman.
Beckman's mother died when he was six. He lived with his dad in a home with no kitchen or air conditioning, and he only had one pair of shoes, according to statements he made to detectives.
Beckman insists the shooting was an accident, but in the police interview he seems to change the story that he told to officers at the scene.
Beckman: "I told them that I thought I had slipped and that had caused me to pull the trigger."
Detective: "Slipped on what?"
Beckman: "Slipped on water or dust or something on the floor. But now I'm not sure, you know. It happened so fast that I'm not sure."
After more than an hour of questioning, the detective asked how Beckman feels about shooting his own dad.
He said, "I feel very bad. I killed him and that's a horrible thing. No matter how bad of a person he was he didn't deserve this."
Beckman also admitted to telling friends that he wanted to kill his dad, but he says it was only a joke and they knew that.
He has been charged with first degree murder as an adult and has pled not guilty.
His trial is scheduled for early next year.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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