UPDATED: 12/5/16 10:44 – Jurors have resumed deliberations in the Michael Slager murder trial in South Carolina. He’s the white fired policeman charged in the shooting death of an unarmed black motorist fleeing a traffic stop, a shooting captured on dramatic cellphone video. Slager was charged after the video emerged showing that he had falsified his police report claiming self-defense.
The video below shows that after 50-year old Water Scott was shot multiple times in the back, Slager doubled back to pick up “an object,” believed to be his taser and dropped it next to Slager’s body. Slager, who testified in his own defense said, he “doesn’t remember doing that.”
Deliberations have entered a fourth day in the case and the jury is considering whether to acquit Slager, find him guilty of murder or convict him of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott.
On Friday, the jury told Circuit Judge Clifton Newman on two separate occasions they were deadlocked but then the jury foreman said he thought the jurors could reach a verdict.
The jurors were expected to have some questions Monday morning but did not come to the courtroom and instead stayed in the jury room deliberating. They have now discussed the case for more than 16 hours.
UPDATED: 12/5/16 9:37AM – Jurors deciding the fate of fired South Carolina patrolman accused of murder in the death of a black motorist are expected to have questions for the judge this morning before their deliberations resume.
The jury of 11 whites and one black has already discussed the case for 16 hours without reaching a verdict and late Friday appeared to be deadlock before the foreman said he thought they could reach a unanimous verdict.
Michael Slager is charged in the shooting death last year of 50-year-old Walter Scott who was shot fleeing a traffic stop in North Charleston. The shooting was captured on cellphone video that was seen widely.
Original post: 12/2/16
The judge in the case of a former police officer charged with murdering a black motorist has told jurors – who indicated that they were unable to reach a verdict – to continue to deliberate.
Circuit Judge Clifton Newman told the jurors Friday afternoon that they should try again to reach a verdict in the trial of former South Carolina patrolman Michael Slager.
The jury had sent the judge a message a 1 p.m. Friday that they wanted to hear the testimony of a man who took cellphone video of Slager shooting black motorist Walter Scott. Shortly after, jurors sent the judge a note saying they could not agree on a verdict.
Jurors have already deliberated about 14 hours over three days.
Slager is charged in the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott, who was shot five times in the back while running from Slager during a traffic stop in North Charleston last year, and lying about the incident on his report.
YouTube video shows traffic stop, and subsequent pursuit of Walter Scott and then officer Slager dropping the taser near Scott’s body.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwQn-K6UZvM
Source: AP
