Cop: I’m guilty
Admits to rights rap in cruel S. Carolina kill
MICHAEL SLAGER, the exSouth Carolina cop who shot an unarmed black motorist in the back, killing him, pleaded guilty to a civil rights charge Tuesday.
By pleading guilty to the federal charge against Slager, prosecutors have agreed to drop state murder charges against him for the April 2015 shooting of Walter Scott, according to a plea agreement obtained by The Associated Press.
The hearing, attended by families of both families, lasted less than 30 minutes. Scott’s family wiped away tears as details of his death were retold.
Slager will be sentenced at a later date.
He pleaded guilty to “deprivation of rights under color of law.”
Slager was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom by U.S. marshals after he hugged his attorney Andy Savage.
Slager could face life in prison, and a $250,000 fine but is
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more likely to receive less time based on recommendations from prosecutors.
“I knew from day one there was something wrong with the picture,” said the victim’s brother, Anthony Scott, who wants Slager to be sentenced to life in prison.
“My brother was violated. He was gunned down running away, and this gentleman continued to stick to that story, but today he told the truth. He said he did it. That’s our victory and the healing starts today.”
Judge David Norton has the discretion to impose a stiffer sentence, which Slager can appeal.
“We hope that Michael’s acceptance of responsibility will help the Scott family as they continue to grieve their loss,” Savage said in a statement earlier to the Post and Courier.
Slager’s murder charge ended in a mistrial last year, but South Carolina prosecutors were gearing up to try him later in 2017.
The North Charleston police officer was captured on video shooting Scott, 50, striking him five times. Scott was running away from Slager after a traffic stop for a broken brake light.
Slager has claimed Scott grabbed his Taser during the incident. He was facing charges that include lying to investigators and using a firearm in a violent crime, the Post and Courier reported.
Savage told NBC News that the ex-cop would plead guilty to violating rights under the color of the law — one of the most serious charges he faced.
In March, his attorney asked that video of the shooting not be submitted because it doesn’t show the alleged stun-gun grab before the shooting. But a federal judge sided with prosecutors and ruled jurors would be allowed to see the recording.
A state jury wasn’t able to reach a verdict in Slager’s murder trial last December — forcing the judge to declare a mistrial. THE JUSTICE Department will not bring charges against two white Louisiana cops who fatally shot a black man outside of a convenience store in Baton Rouge last year.
The decision on Tuesday doesn’t prevent state authorities from investigating the death of 37-year-old Alton Sterling (r.) and pursuing their own criminal charges.
The choice to not prosecute the two officers who were investigated for possible wrongdoing in the high-profile videotaped death is the first of its kind under Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
A police report said that Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket when he was killed. Louisiana is an open carry state.