Bail hearing delayed for ex-officer charged with murder
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A judge has postponed a bail hearing for a white former South Carolina police officer charged in the shooting death of a black motorist.
Court records show that a judge made that decision on Tuesday for Michael Slager. His hearing had been set for Thursday, but Slager's defense team requested a delay because his lead attorney is recovering from surgery.
Slager, a former North Charleston police officer, is charged with murder in the April 4 shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott. A bystander's cellphone video showed Slager firing eight times as Scott tried to run away.
Slager, 33, was fired after the shooting, which inflamed the national debate about how blacks are treated by white law enforcement officers.
Attorney Andy Savage, who represents Slager, said in court documents earlier this month that his client, who is being held in solitary confinement, should have a chance to seek release on bail.
"Given the circumstances of the conditions of his pretrial confinement, all of the circumstances of the alleged crime which led to his arrest, his low risk of danger to the community or danger to flee, certainly Slager should be granted a reasonable opportunity to argue the merits of his request," the motion said.
Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson said in court documents that she had no objection to delaying the hearing. No new date has been scheduled.