Jahaad Marshall's attorney Deonte Thomas asked to be removed from the case saying he was concerned the 27-year-old would perjure himself.
Judge Henry Hight denied the request, telling Thomas that he expected "zealous representation to the best of your abilities."
Marshall's decision to testify came just moments after the prosecution rested. Earlier in the day, they played the dramatic 911 call from the night of January 13, 2013 when two armed men broke into Jason Beyer's home and woke him and his wife. Prosecutors say Marshall and his brother Shabar stole valuables from the home and shot Beyer in the back when he fought them to prevent a sexual assault on his wife.
Prosecutors allege the brothers were behind five similar robberies going back to December 2012.
On the witness stand Wednesday, Jahaad Marshall said he purchased a printer found in his home that was taken in one of the robberies from somebody else.
Jahaad said his brother and a friend he knew as "BJ" or "Brian" were the ones who went into the Beyer home. He said he was driving the getaway car, and he was not responsible for the shooting.
"I never meant for nobody to get hurt," said Marshall.
Under cross examination from prosecutor Boz Zellinger, Jahaad was asked why he never told police about another robber.
Zellinger challenged Jahaad on whether the person even exists.
"Has anyone else ever been around BJ with you," asked Zellinger.
At the conclusion of Jahaad's testimony, the defense rested.
The two brothers are being tried separately. Shabar Marshall has already admitted to 15 total charges including first-degree sex offense and attempted murder in the incident at the Beyer's home. He remains charged in the other home invasions.
Jahaad Marshall is charged with one count of first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of attempted murder, one count of attempted first-degree rape and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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