Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Michael Slager: South Carolina; Bulletin: CBS News. November 16, 2016: Jurors review animation of the shooting of a black motorist compiled from cellphone and dashcam video, police radio chatter and drone footage of the scene...Judge rejects defence motion to dismiss the case...Prosecution rests case..." After the state rested, defense attorney Andy Savage asked Circuit Judge Clifton Newman to dismiss the case against his client. Savage argued that the prosecution had not shown there was malice on Slager’s part, as required by South Carolina law. But the judge ruled that the jury could infer malice from the fact that a deadly weapon was used and that Scott was shot in the back. He refused to dismiss the case."

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: As reporter Alex Johnson notes: "A video made by a bystander showing Slager shooting Scott in the back in April 2015 stunned the nation and led to murder charges for the former North Charleston police officer, who could be sentenced to 30 years to life in prison if he's convicted."..."This Blog is digging into the  momentous on-going trial from time to time, when issues relating to the forensic evidence emerge from the fray.

Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;

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"Jurors in the murder trial of a white former South Carolina patrolman viewed animation Wednesday of the shooting of a black motorist compiled from cellphone and dashcam video, police radio chatter and drone footage of the scene. Former North Charleston patrolman Michael Slager is charged in the April 2015 shooting of 50-year-old Walter Scott, who ran unarmed from a traffic stop. Cellphone video of the shooting recorded by a bystander shows Scott being shot five times in the back by Slager from yards away. It stunned the nation and was seen worldwide on the internet. The state’s final witness, Bill Williams, who recreates crime scenes, compiled the animation and testified that he spent 500 hours putting it together. He was paid $15,000 by the state. The prosecution rested its case following Williams’ testimony, having called 32 witnesses over nine days.  After the state rested, defense attorney Andy Savage asked Circuit Judge Clifton Newman to dismiss the case against his client. Savage argued that the prosecution had not shown there was malice on Slager’s part, as required by South Carolina law. But the judge ruled that the jury could infer malice from the fact that a deadly weapon was used and that Scott was shot in the back. He refused to dismiss the case. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/walter-scott-shooting-michael-slager-trial-jurors-view-animation-of-fatal-south-carolina-police-shooting-state-rests/