This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/17/laquan-mcdonald-chicago-police-officer-trial-jason-van-dyke
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Laquan McDonald death: trial begins of Chicago police officer who shot black teen 16 times | Laquan McDonald death: trial begins of Chicago police officer who shot black teen 16 times |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The murder trial of white police officer caught on video shooting Laquan McDonald, a black teenager, 16 times began in Chicago on Monday as the city braced for heightened tension. | The murder trial of white police officer caught on video shooting Laquan McDonald, a black teenager, 16 times began in Chicago on Monday as the city braced for heightened tension. |
| Former Chicago officer Jason Van Dyke, faces two counts of first-degree murder, one charge of official misconduct and 16 counts of aggravated battery, one for each shot fired. | |
| Proceedings began with Van Dyke’s attorney, Daniel Herbert, arguing to have the jury pool thrown out, claiming they have been prejudiced by protests, and that the case should be moved out of the city. | Proceedings began with Van Dyke’s attorney, Daniel Herbert, arguing to have the jury pool thrown out, claiming they have been prejudiced by protests, and that the case should be moved out of the city. |
| Herbert argued that it was unrealistic to assume the jury would not be intimidated by “threats of violence if there is a not guilty verdict”. | Herbert argued that it was unrealistic to assume the jury would not be intimidated by “threats of violence if there is a not guilty verdict”. |
| Van Dyke sat in the well of the court alongside his legal team, wearing a dark jacket and tie. Herbert said: “I don’t know how anyone can argue that the juror has not been intimidated. The goal here is to ensure that Mr Van Dyke gets a fair trial.” | |
| Cook county judge Vincent Gaughan denied the motion to discharge the jury and rejected arguments from the defence to move the trial out of the city. | Cook county judge Vincent Gaughan denied the motion to discharge the jury and rejected arguments from the defence to move the trial out of the city. |
| McDonald was killed in October 2014 but the case gained global attention in November 2015 when police dashboard camera video released by court order showed Van Dyke opening fire within seconds of exiting his squad car. | McDonald was killed in October 2014 but the case gained global attention in November 2015 when police dashboard camera video released by court order showed Van Dyke opening fire within seconds of exiting his squad car. |
| McDonald, holding a knife, appeared to walk away from police, contradicting reports from officers at the scene he had threatened officers | McDonald, holding a knife, appeared to walk away from police, contradicting reports from officers at the scene he had threatened officers |
| The graphic video – released the day Van Dyke was charged – led to months of protests and political upheaval. | The graphic video – released the day Van Dyke was charged – led to months of protests and political upheaval. |
| The case had repercussions for the Chicago police department – the force’s top officer, Superintendent Garry F McCarthy, was fired. A taskforce was created to look at accountability, oversight and training and a US justice department review found police regularly used excessive force. | The case had repercussions for the Chicago police department – the force’s top officer, Superintendent Garry F McCarthy, was fired. A taskforce was created to look at accountability, oversight and training and a US justice department review found police regularly used excessive force. |
| Three other Chicago officers face charges at a trail set for 26 November, of conspiring to cover up the circumstances, including the lead investigator on the shooting. | Three other Chicago officers face charges at a trail set for 26 November, of conspiring to cover up the circumstances, including the lead investigator on the shooting. |
| Van Dyke entered the Leighton criminal court building at about 7.45am before any protesters arrived. He was surrounded by a security detail and one report said he was wearing a bulletproof vest under his suit. | |
| Seven protesters arrived at about 8.30am, marching as they chanted: “From the slave catchers and the KKK to the killer cops of today, convict Van Dyke and throw him in jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell.” | |
| Van Dyke is the first Chicago police officer to face trial for killing someone on duty in 50 years. | |
| Opening statements were set to begin later on Monday. | |
| Chicago | Chicago |
| Race issues | Race issues |
| US policing | US policing |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |