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Ex-police chief in murder trial for 'senseless violence' | Ex-police chief in murder trial for 'senseless violence' |
(1 day later) | |
South Carolina prosecutors say the 2011 killing of an unarmed black man by a former police chief was a "senseless act of violence". | South Carolina prosecutors say the 2011 killing of an unarmed black man by a former police chief was a "senseless act of violence". |
Former Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs shot and killed Bernard Bailey after an argument over a citation. | Former Eutawville Police Chief Richard Combs shot and killed Bernard Bailey after an argument over a citation. |
As his trial began, defence lawyers argued Mr Combs fired in self-defence as he was trying to arrest Bailey. | As his trial began, defence lawyers argued Mr Combs fired in self-defence as he was trying to arrest Bailey. |
Mr Combs was the third white police officer indicted in 2014 in a shooting of an unarmed black man in the state. | Mr Combs was the third white police officer indicted in 2014 in a shooting of an unarmed black man in the state. |
And his indictment came amid two similar high-profile cases in which officers were not charged. | And his indictment came amid two similar high-profile cases in which officers were not charged. |
Opening statements began on Wednesday after a jury of seven black and five white residents were seated. | Opening statements began on Wednesday after a jury of seven black and five white residents were seated. |
The shooting came after Bailey visited Eutawville town hall to complain about a traffic citation his daughter had received six weeks earlier for a broken tail-light. | The shooting came after Bailey visited Eutawville town hall to complain about a traffic citation his daughter had received six weeks earlier for a broken tail-light. |
Mr Combs attempted to arrest Bailey on a obstruction of justice charge. Bailey left the town hall and Mr Combs pursued him back to his vehicle. | Mr Combs attempted to arrest Bailey on a obstruction of justice charge. Bailey left the town hall and Mr Combs pursued him back to his vehicle. |
Prosecutor David Pascoe said Bailey was then "gunned down in an absolutely senseless act of violence" and shot three times as he simply backed out to escape an escalating situation. | Prosecutor David Pascoe said Bailey was then "gunned down in an absolutely senseless act of violence" and shot three times as he simply backed out to escape an escalating situation. |
Mr Pascoe asked juror to "let [Combs] know that whether you wear a badge or not, you cannot take a life without justification". | Mr Pascoe asked juror to "let [Combs] know that whether you wear a badge or not, you cannot take a life without justification". |
But defence lawyers said Mr Combs had the right to enforce an arrest warrant and only fired because he was caught in Bailey's lorry as it began to back up. | But defence lawyers said Mr Combs had the right to enforce an arrest warrant and only fired because he was caught in Bailey's lorry as it began to back up. |
The police chief was placed on leave after the 2011 shooting, and the town fired him six months later. | |
Bailey's family reached a $400,000 (£265,000) wrongful death settlement with the town last August. | Bailey's family reached a $400,000 (£265,000) wrongful death settlement with the town last August. |
He faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of murder. | He faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of murder. |
The failure of grand juries to indict white police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, over the deaths of black men caused nationwide protests. | The failure of grand juries to indict white police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, over the deaths of black men caused nationwide protests. |
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