US ex-police officer indicted in murdering black man

A grand jury on Monday indicted a white former police officer on a murder charge for fatally shooting a black man earlier April in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Former officer Michael Slager, 33, had been jailed since earlier April after being charged with murdering the 50-year-old black Walter Scott by shooting at Scott’s back eight times while Scott was running away from him. The whole process was filmed by a passer-by on his cell phone.

If convicted of murder, Slager would face between 30 years and life in prison without possibility for parole, said Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson, adding that no trial date had been set yet.

Previously, possibility of death penalty was also on the table after prosecutors announced the murder charge against Slager on April 7, the same day the cell phone clip was handed over to authorities. However, Wilson said the death penalty did not apply here since no aggravating factors, such as robbery or kidnapping as required under South Carolina law, existed in the case.

The fatal encounter began on April 4 when Slager, then patrolman in the North Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, stopped Scott’s vehicle for a broken taillight. After what first appeared to be routine interaction between a driver and an officer, which was recorded by dashboard camera in Slager’s patrol car, Scott fled on foot.

Scott’s family later said he ran probably because he feared that outstanding child-support obligations would lead to his arrest.

Once Slager caught up with Scott, the two allegedly got involved in a tussle over Slager’s Taser.

As Scott again ran away from Slager, Slager fired eight times towards Scott and killed Scott.