Shawna Cox takes the stand in Malheur Refuge standoff trial

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Malheur National Wildlife Refuge standoff defendant Shawna Cox took the witness stand in her own defense Thursday, becoming emotional as jurors watched a video of the traffic stop that ended with the death of occupation spokesman Robert “LaVoy” Finicum.

In the video, Cox can be heard telling Finicum to “gun it” as they fled from an initial stop Jan. 26. Finicum later crashed into a snowbank and left the vehicle. Oregon State Police shot him as he reached toward the inside of his jacket, where he kept a handgun.

Cox testified she didn’t get out during the initial traffic stop because she heard gunfire and feared getting shot.

The Kanab, Utah, woman is one of seven defendants on trial for allegedly conspiring to prevent Interior Department employees from working at the refuge near Burns. The armed occupation of the refuge began Jan. 2 and lasted 41 days.