PITTSBURGH — A defense attorney contended Thursday physical evidence shows a suburban Pittsburgh woman "shot justifiably" when she killed an FBI agent who came to her home to arrest her husband on drug charges.

Lawyer John Elash defended the actions of Christina Korbe, 40, of Indiana Township, after she pleaded not guilty to four counts, including murder of a federal officer.

Special Agent Samuel Hicks and seven other law enforcement agents raided Korbe's home about an hour before dawn on Nov. 19 to arrest her husband, Robert, on drug trafficking charges.

Hicks was first to enter. As Robert Korbe ran from the front door to flush cocaine down the toilet, Christine Korbe, standing atop a stairwell overlooking the home's entryway, fired a single shot from a .38-caliber revolver that hit Hicks just above his bulletproof vest, killing him, authorities said.

Prosecutors said police loudly announced their identities and that Korbe shot Hicks maliciously. Moreover, they have said Robert Korbe's actions show the couple knew Hicks and the others were law enforcement.

But Elash said his client's view from atop the stairs wasn't as clear as Robert Korbe's and that she fire a 'random" shot at the door.

By The Associated Press