The lawyer for a white former SC police officer now facing federal charges for killing unarmed black motorist Walter Scott says his client is “carrying the burden of many past cases that were handled differently”.
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The indictment charges Slager, who worked for the North Charleston Police Department, with violating Scott’s civil rights, obstruction of justice and unlawful use of a weapon, according to the Post and Courier.
Mr Slager was dismissed from the North Charleston police force and charged with murder after shooting Walter Scott. The indictment alleges that Slager intentionally misled SLED investigators by claiming that Scott was coming toward him with a taser at the time that Slager fired his weapon, when in truth, Scott was running away.
The shooting, which was captured by a bystander’s cell phone, put a spotlight on concerns raised by the African-American community involving excessive force by police and sparked discussions about the treatment of Blacks by white officers.
Slager was held in custody until earlier this year when he was released on bail and confined to house arrest.
Now, a federal judge will weigh whether Slager “can remain free on bond”, The Associated Press reports.
Some, including attorneys for Scott’s family, see the new indictment as a message from federal prosecutors that they’ve got their eye on law officers and are fed up with flagrant violence.
“We would not even be here today”, Scott said. “They can’t bring Walter back, but if Walter can be the reason that the federal government starts taking these cases… if Walter Scott can be that example than his death wasn’t in vain”.
Mr Scott was shot in the back five times as he tried to run away from Mr Slager on 4 April 2015 after being pulled over, reportedly for a broken brake light.
A statement from the U.S. Justice Department says that Slager killed Scott “without legal justification”.
Slater is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge for an initial hearing later Wednesday.
Slager’s state case is set to go to trial this fall, although Wilson has asked that it be moved up or delayed until after Roof’s is over. “But I thank God that ‘the prayers of the righteous availeth much.'” she said, quoting the Bible.
Slager will be represented by attorneys Andy Savage and Shaun Kent for the federal trial.
Slager has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and the state murder charge.
North Charleston approved a $6.5 million civil settlement with Scott’s family a year ago, giving $1 million to three of his four children.
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Attorneys for Slager argue that before he shot Scott, the two men struggled over the former officer’s Taser and that Scott grabbed the electrical weapon.
