South Carolina Prosecutors Plan To Retry Officer Accused Of Killing Unarmed Black Man
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Prosecutors say they intend to retry a fired South Carolina police officer whose murder trial ended in a mistrial on Monday when jurors could not reach a verdict.
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said Monday that she will retry the case against 35-year-old Michael Slager, who was being prosecuted in the death of an unarmed, black motorist Walter Scott. Jurors were also considering a lesser charge of voluntary man slaughter.
Slager also faces a trial in federal court next year on charges of depriving Scott of his civil rights.
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and other community leaders urged calm as the trial began six weeks ago. Tecklenburg says he and many in the community are disappointed but that Slager will again be in court.
Slager was standing trial for shooting Scott to death in North Charleston after stopping him for having a broken taillight. Cellphone video taken by a bystander of the shooting was shown widely in the media and on the internet and sparked national outrage.
Race was never made a major issue at trial, even though Slager is white and Scott was black.
Jurors had deliberated more than 22 hours over four days.
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