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Ex-Oklahoma reserve deputy to stand trial in February for stun gun killing Ex-Oklahoma reserve deputy to stand trial for 'stun gun error' killing
(about 5 hours later)
A former volunteer sheriff’s deputy in Oklahoma who says he confused his handgun and stun gun when he shot and killed an unarmed, restrained man will face a jury trial in February, a judge has ruled.A former volunteer sheriff’s deputy in Oklahoma who says he confused his handgun and stun gun when he shot and killed an unarmed, restrained man will face a jury trial in February, a judge has ruled.
Related: Robert Bates suggests strong ties to sheriff's office in secret recordingRelated: Robert Bates suggests strong ties to sheriff's office in secret recording
Robert Bates, 73, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges during his district court arraignment in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday when he was bound over for trial.Robert Bates, 73, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges during his district court arraignment in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday when he was bound over for trial.
He is charged in connection with the 2 April killing of Eric Harris, 44, who ran from Tulsa County sheriff’s office deputies after a sting involving gun sales. Harris’s brother and son attended the arraignment.He is charged in connection with the 2 April killing of Eric Harris, 44, who ran from Tulsa County sheriff’s office deputies after a sting involving gun sales. Harris’s brother and son attended the arraignment.
The death has embroiled the community, spawning allegations of corruption by Bates’s longtime friend the Tulsa County sheriff Stanley Glanz, a grand jury investigation into the office and complaints by residents who do not want taxpayer money to pay for the sheriff’s legal fight.The death has embroiled the community, spawning allegations of corruption by Bates’s longtime friend the Tulsa County sheriff Stanley Glanz, a grand jury investigation into the office and complaints by residents who do not want taxpayer money to pay for the sheriff’s legal fight.
Judge James Caputo set a trial date for 8 February and declined to recuse himself from the case. He had considered stepping down over his close ties to the sheriff’s office, where he worked for about seven years. Caputo, in April, said his daughter worked for the office. A sheriff’s office spokesman on Monday did not return a request for comment on whether she was still employed there.Judge James Caputo set a trial date for 8 February and declined to recuse himself from the case. He had considered stepping down over his close ties to the sheriff’s office, where he worked for about seven years. Caputo, in April, said his daughter worked for the office. A sheriff’s office spokesman on Monday did not return a request for comment on whether she was still employed there.
Attorneys for both sides agreed in court that they did not see any conflicts of interest or risk that Caputo would not be impartial.Attorneys for both sides agreed in court that they did not see any conflicts of interest or risk that Caputo would not be impartial.
“I’ve never shied away from a case yet, and I don’t intend to now,” Caputo told the court, according to the Tulsa World.“I’ve never shied away from a case yet, and I don’t intend to now,” Caputo told the court, according to the Tulsa World.
Across town on Monday, community members gathered to voice their opposition to the Tulsa County Board of County Commissioners’ decision to allocate taxpayer money for Glanz’s legal defense against the citizen-requested grand jury probe.Across town on Monday, community members gathered to voice their opposition to the Tulsa County Board of County Commissioners’ decision to allocate taxpayer money for Glanz’s legal defense against the citizen-requested grand jury probe.
After the shooting and a leaked memo from 2009 that raised concerns about Bates’s training, district judge Rebecca Nightingale ordered a grand jury to investigate whether reserve deputies who gave donations to the sheriff have been given special treatment. Bates donated thousands of dollars in cash and equipment to the agency and had served as Glanz’s campaign manager.After the shooting and a leaked memo from 2009 that raised concerns about Bates’s training, district judge Rebecca Nightingale ordered a grand jury to investigate whether reserve deputies who gave donations to the sheriff have been given special treatment. Bates donated thousands of dollars in cash and equipment to the agency and had served as Glanz’s campaign manager.
Thousands of residents signed a petition to empanel the grand jury, which convenes on 20 July.Thousands of residents signed a petition to empanel the grand jury, which convenes on 20 July.
The commissioners on Monday reaffirmed their decision to provide money for Glanz’s legal defense in that grand jury investigation, according to the Tulsa World. They allowed people to speak at the meeting after not accepting public comment when originally authorizing the funds late last month. The commissioners decide to stand by the previous decision after being advised by their attorney that the previous action was legal.The commissioners on Monday reaffirmed their decision to provide money for Glanz’s legal defense in that grand jury investigation, according to the Tulsa World. They allowed people to speak at the meeting after not accepting public comment when originally authorizing the funds late last month. The commissioners decide to stand by the previous decision after being advised by their attorney that the previous action was legal.