New Judge Assigned In Trial Of Cop Who Killed Philando Castile
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A new judge has been assigned in the trial of Jeronimo Yanez for the death of Philando Castile.
Yanez, a St. Anthony Police officer, shot and killed 32-year-old Philando Castile, who is black, during a traffic stop last July. Yanez was charged with manslaughter in the incident in November.
Attorneys representing Yanez filed a notice last month to remove Ramsey County Judge Edward Wilson from the case last month. Under Minnesota law, attorneys from both the prosecution and defense can strike one judge from a criminal case without giving a reason.
Wilson was appointed to the bench in 1987 by Gov. Rudy Perpich and is the second-most senior judge in the district.
On Wednesday, a new judge was assigned to the trial: Judge William Leary. He was appointed to the court by Gov. Jesse Ventura in 2002 and recently won re-election.