Officer picks jury trial in teen’s death

CHICAGO — Attorneys for a white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald announced Friday they will stick with a jury rather than asking the judge to decide his fate.

Judge Vincent Gaughan had set a Friday deadline for Jason Van Dyke to say whether he wanted to switch to a bench trial, in which Gaughan would have heard the evidence and rendered a verdict.

Defense attorney Daniel Herbert offered no reasons in court for going ahead with a jury, which is scheduled to begin hearing opening statements Monday. Some legal experts had said the defense team might believe chances of an acquittal in the emotionally charged case would improve with a judge.

After saying his client opted for a jury trial, Herbert told the judge Van Dyke didn’t necessarily want the jurors who were vetted and selected over the past week. The 12-person jury is made up of seven whites, three Hispanics, one AfricanAmerican and one Asian-American. Attorneys also picked five alternates.

The presence of demonstrators and police outside the courthouse from the start of jury selection sent the message that hearing evidence in this trial could be dangerous, Herbert told the judge.

“The jury panel was prejudiced upon arrival,” he said.

Gaughan denied the request, saying none of the jurors expressed fear for their safety during questioning this week.