NORWICH – The defense says accused murderer George Ford Jr. will take the stand Friday.

Defense Attorney Randel Scharf told reporters outside the Chenango County Courthouse Wednesday that Ford would testify in his own defense tomorrow.

The announcement came just an hour after District Attorney Joseph A. McBride told Broome County Judge Joseph F. Cawley that the people were resting in the case. McBride called 21 witnesses since he began presenting his case Feb. 2.

After McBride rested his case, Scharf tried unsuccessfully to have the charges against his client dismissed.

“The prosecution’s case, judge, is replete of evidence of intent. There isn’t any evidence that George Ford intended to commit murder when he caused the death of Shyanne Somers. And that’s simply because he didn’t intend to kill her,” he said.

The 44-year-old Ford is charged with the July 2007 slaying of his 12-year-old neighbor, Shyanne Somers, who was supposed to baby-sit his two-year-old son so he could return to a graduation party.

After picking up the girl at around 11:30 p.m. July 7, 2007, Ford’s wife, Cindy, decided against returning and Ford then allegedly left with the girl to bring her home. Ford said he took Somers to see some horses he kept on Will Warner Road and accidentally ran over the girl while turning his pick-up truck around.