: A white former police officer charged in the shooting death of a black motorist is returning to a federal courtroom in South Carolina.
U.S. District Judge David Norton has set a Friday hearing on the civil rights charges brought against former North Charleston officer Michael Slager. The officer was arraigned in May.
The federal charges stem from the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott in April of 2015. Scott, who was unarmed, was fleeing a traffic stop when he was shot. A bystander’s recording of Scott’s shooting reignited the national debate about the treatment blacks face at the hands of white police officers.
Slager faces a murder charge in state court in a trial set to begin in October.
The federal indictment charges that Slager, while acting as a law officer, deprived Scott of his civil rights. A second count says he used a weapon, a Glock Model 21 .45—calibre pistol, while doing so.
The third count, charging obstruction of justice, alleges Slager intentionally misled state investigators about what happened during the encounter with Scott.
Conviction on all counts could bring a life sentence plus 30 years and a $750,000 fine. The civil rights charge can carry the death penalty but federal prosecutors have said they are seeking life because there were no aggravating circumstances in the case.
Last fall, the city of North Charleston approved a $6.5 million civil settlement with Scott’s family.
Slager has filed a civil suit in federal court against the Southern States Police Benevolent Association alleging the insurer didn’t provide him the legal representation he paid for under an insurance policy. The company has said it denied benefits because the shooting of Scott was outside Slager’s duties as a law enforcement officer.
Judge Norton is also hearing that case.
Bureau Report
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