Ex-South Carolina cop Michael Slager sentenced to 20 years for Walter Scott shooting death

NY Daily News ^ | December 7, 2017 | David Boroff

[Coronal]

The white ex-South Carolina cop who shot an unarmed black man in the back as a passerby videotaped the stunning death received a 20-year federal prison term Thursday.

Former North Charleston officer Michael Slager was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Norton, who earlier ruled the cop’s shooting of Walter Scott during a traffic stop was second-degree murder.

“This is a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened,” said Norton, who could have thrown the disgraced law enforcer behind bars for 24 years.

Slager, 36, was also declared guilty of obstruction of justice for the bogus version of the April 2015 shooting that he gave to state police investigators.

[Responsibility2nd]

Lots of backstory here.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/michaelslager/index

[2banana]

Funny how the press can report on the races in this crime.

Most other crimes - we are kept guessing...

[Navy Patriot]

Thanks, very complete.

[jimfree]

This is how it works when the DOJ stays the hell out of local prosecutions.

[Vigilanteman]

Walter Scott didn’t shake down a store owner or charge a cop to try to steal his gun. There were no riots over his very unjustified shooting death either. The locals got him the justice he deserved.

[Responsibility2nd]

Slager, 36, was also declared guilty of obstruction of justice for the bogus version of the April 2015 shooting that he gave to state police investigators.

 

This is the reason why Slager was given such a sentence. He lied from the get go.

He had some justification in shooting Scott. After all they were engaged in a life or death fight.

This sentence is a miscarriage of justice.

 

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

Good!

[Responsibility2nd]

Good?

Would you have been glad if Darren Wilson had been given 20 years for killing Michael Brown?

There is nothing good about this Chicken Shit sentence.

[Impala64ssa]

IIRC, Slager initially pulled Scott over for a busted taillight. Scott actually pulled into an Auto Zone parking lot. Maybe Mr. Scott was already aware of the taillight and was going to replace it? Perhaps if Slager considered this possibility, this incident wouldn’t have happened. In NY the cop will give a ticket for “defective equipment” along with a form to be filled out by any PD in the state if the problem is corrected within 24 hrs, then the ticket is dismissed.

[Meet the New Boss]

“Walter Scott didn’t charge a cop to try to steal his gun”

Actually, pretty close. Scott ran from the officer and when the officer caught up to him, Scott physically fought the officer and apparently stole his taser and fired it at the officer, as Schlager ended up with taser darts in his leg.

Yes, it is true Schlager then shot Scott as Scott was running away.

But because of the heat of passion and provocation from Scott physically fighting Schlager, this should have been manslaughter not murder.

[Fhios]

yea, I saw how much danger he was in from a 45 year old overweight black man was running away from him when he decided to shoot him in the back several times. I wonder if he was thinking ‘’hell yes, my first kill” while he was pausing for a moment to square up properly for the final and fatal shot.

[DoodleDawg]

This is how it works when the DOJ stays the hell out of local prosecutions.

This was the DOJ. Local prosecution ended in a hung jury.

[Mr Rogers]

He shot a guy running away. Not while in a life & death fight. Pretty hard to justify shooting an unarmed man in the back as he is running away.

Wiki: "He continued to pursue Scott into a lot behind a pawn shop at 5654 Rivers Avenue, and the two became involved in a physical altercation. Slager then fired his Taser, hitting Scott.

Scott fled, and Slager drew his handgun, firing eight rounds at him from behind. The coroner's report stated that Scott was struck a total of five times: three times in the back, once in the upper buttocks, and once on one of his ears.

During Slager's state trial, forensic pathologist Lee Marie Tormos testified that the fatal wound was caused by a bullet that entered Scott's back and struck his lungs and heart."

[Mr Rogers]

The state dropped charges when it was announced the feds had a plea deal.

[BlackbirdSST]

There is nothing good about this Chicken Shit sentence.

Shoot a man in the back then lie through your teeth about it, the very definition of 'Chicken Shit'. If he thought he was justified shooting that man he wouldn't have lied. He knew he was toast before the burnt powder wafted through his nostrils.

[Bonemaker]

Im still waiting for charges against the moslem cop who killied the Aussie woman. Nice system you’ve got there Minnesota.

[Fhios]

Don’t make us laugh, the Michael Brown case was justifiable police action, with ample proof and background.

This was murder 2. Go look at the video. An overweight 45 year old unarmed black man was gunned down from behind by a cop that was excited he was going to get his first kill.

Complete with a slight pause and shimming up in the ‘by the book’ stance and fired the final and fatal shot into his back.

[Responsibility2nd]

Danger?

The real danger came earlier when he and Scott were in a fight and Scott had the tazer. And used it on Slager.

Now was that justification to shoot a fleeing man 8 times in the back?

I say it partially justifies it. It explains it. I’ll even say that fact and the fact Slager lied about the incident is proof enough that he is guilty.

But 20 years guilty?

Excessive.

[Mr.Unique]

After all they were engaged in a life or death fight.

False