A former USA police officer has been indicted on federal charges over the fatal shooting of a black motorist in SC previous year, one of a series of incidents that sparked protests over perceived racist abuses by law enforcement.
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“I pray that other mothers don’t have to go through what I’ve been going through”, Judy Scott told reporters after Slager’s hearing.
Before Slager opens fire, a video shows a dark object falling behind Scott and hitting the ground. “It really feels as if officer Slager is carrying the burden of many past cases that were handled differently”.
Slager chased and later shot Scott after a traffic stop in SC on April 4, 2015, according to court documents.
Slager initially said through his lawyer that he felt threatened during an encounter that began as a routine traffic stop, and said the 50-year-old Scott tried to grab his stun gun, according to reports.
South Jersey native Michael Slager, a former North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer, is under federal indictment on three charges.
Asked how Scott’s parents, Walter Sr. and Judy, reacted, Stewart said they were thankful but stoic at first. Prosecutors will reportedly not be seeking the death penalty, though the indictment allowed for the possibility.
Over the past year and on numerous occasions, I have met with the local United States Attorney’s Office and the civil rights division of the Department of Justice regarding the killing of Mr. Scott.
Slager was indicted this week on federal charges including depriving Scott of his civil rights.
Chris Stewart, an attorney for the Scott family, said he was relieved and excited by the news, and said that the indictment was a historic step toward justice in police brutality cases.
In this instance, Strom said the federal prosecution may be sending a powerful message about how police violence is to be handled across the nation, given the public fervor such cases has created. By law, Defendant Slager is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. Slager was sacked from the police department not long after.
Savage has raised concerns about police staffing on the day of Scott’s shooting.
In October, the Charleston city council agreed to settle a lawsuit by Scott’s family for $6.5 million.
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A conviction on the civil rights charge, the most serious count Slager faces, carries up to life imprisonment but no minimum punishment.
