GUILTY SC - Walter Scott, 50, fatally shot by North Charleston PD officer, 4 April 2015 - #2

[bluesneakers]

Murder Trial Begins for Ex-Police Officer Who Shot Walter Scott

Jury selection is set to begin today in the murder trial of Michael Slager, the ex-police officer who shot and killed Walter Scott, an unarmed black man, 18 months ago during a traffic stop in North Charleston, South Carolina.

The video won't be the only piece of evidence, but it will play a major role in the prosecution. Slager's defense says the video doesn't show key events they say led up to the shooting: Scott grabbing Slager's Taser and the ensuing scuffle. Slager was acting in self-defense when he shot Scott, defense attorneys said.

"The video of the fight is blurry and indistinct, while the video of the shooting itself is clear. As a result, the video is rarely if ever, shown in its entirety," the defense said in a motion earlier this month.

Of the 990 fatal police shootings last year, Slager was one of the 10 officers who were charged with a crime, according to the Washington Post.

"This is going to be a very delicate and important time for the city," Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen said. "There's going be a lot of emotion and a lot of activity around the courthouses."

 

[bluesneakers]

Ex-Cop Who Shot Walter Scott as He Ran Away Now Wants Murder Charge Dismissed

Jury selection is underway for the murder trial of former South Carolina cop Michael Slager, who shot and killed unarmed motorist Walter Scott during a traffic stop in early April 2015 in what prosecutors have alleged is murder, PEOPLE confirms.

...

He has pleaded not guilty and faces 30 years to life without parole if convicted. Jury selection will take at least two days, according to the Associated Press.

Slager has also been indicted on federal charges, including violating civil rights laws, obstruction of justice and using a firearm while committing an act of violence. He has pleaded not guilty in that case as well.

Among other motions is a request that Scott not be referred to as a “victim” at any point during Slager’s trial.


His attorneys are also seeking to move the trial, alleging North Charleston’s residents are unduly influenced by a “toxic stew of half-truths, misperceptions and false narratives,” according to CNN. Another motion indicates the defense intends to bring jurors to the scene of Scott’s death.

It was not immediately clear when there will be rulings on these motions.

 

[popsicle]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][h=1]A look at what's in store as Michael Slager's murder trial begins[/h][FONT=&quot]
Jury selection starts at 8:30 a.m. Monday, and it could last a week. Testimony will follow and could stretch for two weeks, running from about 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Trial will be live-streamed[/FONT]

 

[i.b.nora]

Public kept out of court proceeding as potential jurors are asked about Walter Scott case
Post & Courier
By Andrew Knapp [email protected] Updated 12 min ago

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/...cle_e8b7dc96-a03b-11e6-a49a-63195e3e8c84.html

“Behind closed doors Tuesday, potential jurors in Michael Slager's murder trial were being asked whether they know about the Walter Scott shooting and have seen the video of it, sources at the proceeding said.

Circuit Judge Clifton Newman has barred the public from the procedure that officials have called roll call, an attendance-taking process with basic biographical questioning. But such specific questioning of jurors about the case typically takes place during voir dire in an open, public courtroom.”​

Must read.

 

[Tawny]

It's interesting and note-worthy that they chose to shut out the public from this part of the process. I wonder why? Do they anticipate a volatile trial?

 

[Tawny]

Ex-Cop Who Shot Walter Scott as He Ran Away Now Wants Murder Charge Dismissed

"Among other motions is a request that Scott not be referred to as a “victim” at any point during Slager’s trial."

:no:

 

[i.b.nora]

Slager defense attorneys want Walter Scott shooting video excluded, witnesses sequestered

Tuesday, November 1st 2016, 10:02 am PDT
Live5 News (CBS)
By Patrick Phillips, Digital Content Manager

http://www.live5news.com/story/3356...shooting-video-excluded-witnesses-sequestered

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Attorneys representing the former police officer accused of murder in the shooting death of a motorist want a video of the incident excluded from the trial.

In a pair of motions filed Tuesday, as jury selection continues in the trial of Michael Slager, his defense team argued a video showing the shooting of Walter Scott taken by a passerby is "highly prejudicial, inflammatory, and factually deficient."

“The video of the shooting taken on April 4, 2015, is unreliable, technically inadequate, limited in scope, and extremely unrepresentative of the events at issue,” the motion reads.

Attorneys argue the video is of "poor quality" and "fails to clearly show the significant acts leading up to the fatal shooting, because it is out of focus for a substantial portion of the relevant events, and because it does not adequately reflect the positioning and distances between the actors." They also want the video excluded because it only provides the viewpoint of Feiden Santana, the man who recorded the footage, and not that of Slager.

"As will become abundantly clear, the only point of view that is relevant is the view from the perspective of the officer," the motion states.”​

 

[bluesneakers]

"Among other motions is a request that Scott not be referred to as a “victim” at any point during Slager’s trial."

:no:

Such a telling little detail.

 

[i.b.nora]

Opening statements in Slager trial to start Thursday
By Andrew Knapp [email protected] Updated 6 min ago

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/...cle_05fb94f0-a0af-11e6-bafe-cf927a22d84d.html

“Opening statements in the Michael Slager trial are set to start at 9 a.m. Thursday.

On Wednesday, 12 jurors and six alternates were chosen, but shortly after, one of the primary jurors was excused, leaving Judge Clifton Newman to figure out how to fill the spot. The jury includes six white men, five white women and one black man. The alternates are two white men, two white women and two black women.

Shortly after the jury was chosen, a Filipino man was dismissed after he said he is a Merchant Marine and needs to work. In addition, he said English is his second language.

He was replaced by a random draw of a white woman from the alternate pool, and a black woman then joined the alternates.”​

More, including a Batson challenge.

 

[i.b.nora]

The trial is being live streamed. It is currently in a five minute break.

I am successfully watching it here on my iPad:

http://ftpcontent4.worldnow.com/raycom/hub/scribble/MichaelSlagerTrial.html

 

[i.b.nora]

Also here:

http://www.live5news.com/story/3361...y-underway-in-slager-trial?CLIENTTYPE=GENERIC

 

[Cobra Jet]

"Among other motions is a request that Scott not be referred to as a “victim” at any point during Slager’s trial."

:no:

IMO, He was a suspect when originally stopped for a minor traffic offence (broken tail light) and likely turned into the perpetrator of a crime when he resisted arrest. Once he was shot in the back he became the victim of that crime and since that is what this trial is about he should be described as the victim IMO.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Slager defense attorneys want Walter Scott shooting video excluded, witnesses sequestered

[/INDENT]

Well that’s not that surprising because the video makes his client look guilty as charged.

 

[bluesneakers]

IMO, He was a suspect when originally stopped for a minor traffic offence (broken tail light) and likely turned into the perpetrator of a crime when he resisted arrest. Once he was shot in the back he became the victim of that crime and since that is what this trial is about he should be described as the victim IMO.

Yeah, it seems like if someone is charged with murder there has to be a victim.

 

[i.b.nora]

The trial continues today. It just adjorned until 3 pm Eastern. On the stand today has been the guy who shot the video.

Of course, the defense has been trying to undermine the guy's credibility. Personally, I don't think the defense was successful in doing so.

Today I have been watching an ABC News livestream via:
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/...cle_48ba1684-a10b-11e6-a639-a3b9a114da5f.html

 

[Cobra Jet]

Of course, the defense has been trying to undermine the guy's credibility. Personally, I don't think the defense was successful in doing so.

I realize that they need to try to put up a defense but unless this guy tampered with the video I personally don't see how it will make a difference what he did or didn't do before or after shooting the video.

 

[bluesneakers]

Man Who Recorded Walter Scott’s Death on Cellphone Video Testifies in Murder Trial

Feidin Santana said he kept the footage to himself for more than a day because he thought that Walter Scott survived the altercation in an empty lot on Saturday morning, April 4, 2015. He showed the video to Mr. Scott’s family only after hearing that Mr. Scott had died, and that the police officer had said he had no choice but to use deadly force after a fight over control of his Taser.

”I’m showing them the other side of the story,” Mr. Santana said. “I’m showing them the truth.”

 

[Woodland]

Here is a link to a Fifth Estate program that aired last evening - it gives a very fair (imo) look at all aspects of the use of videos in such cases - be it body/dash cams or bystander video. The last segment, beginning at the 30 minute mark (of 45 minutes) is about the Scott shooting.

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2016-2017/police-shootings-caught-on-camera

The segment centers on a documentary by a Toronto filmmaker titled 'Frame 394' - it has just been short listed for an Oscar. Maybe this doc has been posted already - not sure.

The filmmaker has enhanced and slowed down the video - the view is very good. The filmmaker also gives his perspective on the shooting, however I don't really see his point of view, nor do I understand why he changed his mind after viewing the video with more clarity. At the 39+ minute mark, the lawyer for Slager states (while speaking to his client) ' ... we want your video to be the best it can be ...'
However the defense now wants the video excluded altogether.

Caution - there are as many ads in this viewing as there are watching cable TV.

 

[i.b.nora]

Feidin Santana testifies for hours in Michael Slager trial: 'I know it was an injustice, what I saw'
The Post and Courier
By Andrew Knapp and Brenda Rindge
November 4, 2016

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/...cle_7f3a7ade-a23a-11e6-ae8e-079eb54352a2.html

“At first, Feidin Santana never wanted this day to come.

It was just by chance that he filmed a North Charleston police officer shooting Walter Scott to death last year. He was scared to go to the authorities, to one day be responsible for the testimony that prosecutors hope would result in the lawman’s conviction.

But for nearly four hours Friday, the 25-year-old took the witness stand, describing how he eventually saw a responsibility to bring his footage to the world. He withstood heated questioning by former patrolman Michael Slager’s defense lawyer, who challenged Santana for the fame and fortune the video brought, for the mistrust of police that the immigrant barber expressed in songwriting before the shooting.

Santana didn’t crumble under pressure. Soft-spoken at times and using broken English, his second language, he used the heated moments to say what motivated him to speak out.

“My fear was to be here where I’m at today … to be part of this,” Santana testified. “But at the same time, I know it was an injustice, what I saw.””​

Much more.

 

[i.b.nora]

This is The Post and Courier's 'Live Blog' of the trial.

WATCH: First officer on scene after Michael Slager testifies about trying to help Walter Scott

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/...cle_48ba1684-a10b-11e6-a639-a3b9a114da5f.html

LIVE BLOG / DAY 2:

5 p.m. The judge ended proceedings for the day, as a juror had "an issue," he said after a note was handed to him.

The trial resumes at 9 a.m. Monday.

4:30 p.m. Clarence Habersham, the first officer to show up after Michael Slager shot Walter Scott to death, took the witness stand.

After nine years as a North Charleston policeman, he said he recently left the department and started work for a clothing manufacturer.

Habersham, who had been on the same patrol squad with Slager only for a few months before the shooting in April 2015, arrived at the scene to the sight of the officer running.

He tended to Scott’s body. Scott lay face down on the ground, and Habersham flipped over the body. He did first aid, he said, and another later started CPR.

Habersham said he never saw Slager drop anything nearby, such as a Taser, as he tried to help Scott.

Slager later told Habersham that he was fine.”

“Why did he do that?” Slager told Habersham, the witness testified.​

I watched and listened to most of the testimony on Friday. The feed seemed to stop very abrubtly and I thought that the signal had been lost but, now I see why. One other guy, a friend of Santana's testified on Friday as well. This blog contains a synopsis of his testimony.