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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The latest on the case of a white ex-police officer charged with murder in shooting death of a black man in North Charleston, South Carolina. All times local.
11 a.m.
A judge says he will rule "as expeditiously as possible" on whether to grant bail for a white ex-police officer charged with murder in the shooting death of a black man in North Charleston, South Carolina.
However, Judge Clifton Newman gave no indication Friday when that would be.
During a morning hearing, former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager briefly stood and told the court he's not a flight risk and he would adhere to any requirements the judge might set as conditions of bail.
Slager is charged in the April 4 death of Walter Scott after a traffic stop.
During the hearing, prosecutors said they expected to be able to try the case in late 2016. Slager's defense said it could be ready by spring.
Prosecution and defense attorneys had sparred over the bond question at a Thursday hearing.
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5:45 a.m.
A lawyer for a South Carolina police officer charged with murder after he was captured on video shooting a fleeing man in the back is trying to change the public's perception of what happened.
During a bail hearing Thursday, defense attorney Andy Savage said small amounts of cocaine were found in Walter Scott's system after he was killed April 4, and he suggested that Scott tried to take North Charleston officer Michael Slager's Taser and use it against him.
Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson called Slager an executioner who planted his Taser by Scott's body to try and cover up his actions.
Over the past five months, discussion of the case has been dominated by the cellphone video showing Scott running away and Slager shooting eight times at Scott's back.
The judge hearing the case said Thursday that he'll decide later whether to release Slager on bond.
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