by David Gura

Alameda County Deputy District Attorney David Stein has finished his closing argument in the trial of Johannes Mehserle, a former Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer, accused of murdering an unarmed passenger at an Oakland train station in January, 2009.

According to Gary Risling, a reporter for the Associated Press, "defense attorney Michael Rains earlier pleaded for acquittal, citing testimony that his client had inadequate training and witnesses who said Mehserle appeared to be in shock after shooting 22-year-old Oscar Grant during an altercation."

The jury, having received its instructions, has begun deliberations. If they don't reach a verdict today, by 7:00 p.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. PT, they will reconvene on Tuesday.

The trial is taking place in Los Angeles, not Oakland, where authorities worry the verdict could spark street violence.

According to Kevin Fagan, a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, "from youth clubs and churches to City Hall and even groups planning protests, many people are working hard to keep the inevitable demonstrations from getting out of hand they did Jan. 7, 2009."

That evening, rioters damaged scores of businesses and torched several cars in the downtown business district in reaction to the shooting.

On KQED's Forum, host Michael Krasny spoke to Anthony Batts, chief of the Oakland Police Department.