BOONE, Iowa (AP) – A Georgia man accused in his former roommate’s 2009 slaying has testified in his own defense, repeating that he killed the man in order to protect himself. The defense rested its case Thursday in the trial of 55-year-old John Green, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Mark Koster, of Sac City. The case now goes to jurors for deliberation.

Previous testimony and a videotaped police interview aired in court revealed that Green admitted to killing Koster. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that as Green explained what happened prior to Koster’s death, he maintained that he killed Koster out of self-defense. Koster was declared missing in 2010, and his remains were later found buried in his Sac City home after new owners began renovations.