Jury will see video of ex-cop shooting
fleeing motorist
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[March 18, 2017]
By Harriet McLeod
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - Cell phone
video of a white South Carolina police officer shooting an unarmed black
man in the back will be allowed as evidence at the former patrolman's
upcoming federal trial, a judge ruled at a hearing on Friday.
Michael Slager, 35, could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty
of violating motorist Walter Scott's civil rights in the April 2015
fatal shooting in North Charleston. Slager's federal trial is set for
May in Charleston.
Slager fired eight times at Scott's back, hitting him five times, after
the motorist fled a traffic stop for a broken brake light.
Defense lawyers had argued in court that jurors should not be allowed to
view a witness' video of the incident because it was blurry, misleading
and an incomplete record of the event.
The video of a struggle between the officer and Scott, 50, for control
of Slager's Taser was brief and shaky, defense lawyer Donald McCune
said.
That scuffle was a key focus of Slager's defense during his trial on a
murder charge in state court last fall, with his lawyers arguing he had
feared for his life. The trial ended with a hung jury.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Fishman said on Friday the video offered
objective proof of Slager shooting an unarmed person who was running
away.
"You don't exclude evidence because it's not complete," Fishman said.
U.S. District Judge David Norton said prosecutors could play the video
and show it in slow motion at the trial, despite defense objections
about creating an unfair perception of Slager.
"You don't get to try their case, and they don't get to try yours,"
Norton told defense lawyers.
Slager also is charged with using a gun while committing the civil
rights offense and obstructing justice by intentionally misleading state
investigators after the shooting.
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Former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager is escorted to
the courthouse by security personnel while waiting on his verdict at
the Charleston County Courthouse in Charleston, South Carolina,
U.S., December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Randall Hill
He is scheduled to be re-tried on the murder charge in August.
Defense lawyer Andy Savage has argued prosecutors bowed to political
pressure when they opted to charge Slager amid concerns about the
use of force against minorities by police in cities across the
United States.
Prosecutors said the administration of President Donald Trump
supports the federal case against Slager, who was indicted during
the administration of former President Barack Obama.
"Mr. Savage knows that two administrations fully support this
prosecution," Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Klumb said. "Political
consideration was not a part of those decisions."
(Reporting by Harriet McLeod; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Lisa
Shumaker)
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