MISSOULA — A lawyer for a Montana man on trial for killing a German exchange student inside the man’s garage challenged the credentials Friday of a police officer whose prosecution testimony suggested the man may have hunted down the teenager.

Missoula police Detective Guy Baker had testified in Markus Kaarma’s trial that blood evidence suggested the student, Diren Dede, had been wounded and was standing when Kaarma fired a fatal gunshot to the head. 

Defense attorney Lisa Kauffman contended that Detective Baker, the last prosecution witness, used no science in coming to his conclusions. 

“They were based on common sense and the total investigation of what went on in the garage,” Baker replied.

Witnesses have testified that Kaarma fired four gunshots that early morning of April 27, pausing between the third and final shot. Baker testified that based on blood stains at the scene and other evidence, it appeared the 17-year-old Dede had been wounded in the arm, hid behind a car, then stood and was fatally shot.

“It indicates to me that at some point Diren stood up facing Kaarma, and he was then shot in the head,” Baker said.

Kaarma was pursuing an intruder in his garage in the early morning hours of April 27. His attorneys insist Montana law allowed him to use deadly force to protect his family and property.

Prosecutors argue that after a previous burglary, Kaarma was intent on harming an intruder and baited one by leaving the garage door open with a purse inside before he shot Dede.

The defense was beginning its case Friday by calling an expert on crime statistics.

Former exchange student Robby Pazmino, 19, of Quito, Ecuador, testified Tuesday that he and Dede had engaged in “garage-hopping,” or sneaking into people’s garages, up to five times before the shooting. He said Dede went into Kaarma’s garage that night but didn’t tell him why.