Jury selection began Monday morning in the case of Theodore Wafer, 55, who shot Renisha McBride on his doorstep in Detroit on Nov. 4. He is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and use of a shotgun during the crime. 
McBride was intoxicated and unarmed when she walked to Wafer's porch after crashing her car. A jury will have to determine whether Wafer's use of a weapon was a reasonable fear or deadly force. 

If convicted, Wafer could spend up to a lifetime in prison. Race has been brought up as a motive in discussions around the case because Wafer is white and Renisha is Black. However the court has not acknowledged race during the months leading up to the trial.

"If Ms. McBride had stayed at the scene of her car crash, where help was on the way, Mr. Wafer would never have been put in the situation ... to use deadly force to protect himself," defense attorney Cheryl Carpenter said to the Associated Press. 
Prosecutors believe Wafer should have called 911 instead of firing his gun. "Someone who claims lawful self-defense must have an honest and reasonable — not honest or reasonable — belief of imminent death or imminent great bodily harm," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said to AP. 
Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege_

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. 

(Photos from left: AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Eric Seals, File, AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Brian Kaufman)