06 June, 2017
The process of selecting a jury is underway in Minnesota in the trial of a police officer charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting a black motorist.
Jurors will not get to visit the scene of the shooting.
Jeronimo Yanez is facing second-degree manslaughter charges for the shooting death of Philando Castile, 32, who was killed in July 2016 in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights during a traffic stop.
Gray argued Tuesday that the defense is skeptical of Reynolds' claims because Yanez says he could smell burnt marijuana when he approached the vehicle. Officers and medics rendering aid to Castile later removed the gun from his right front shorts pocket. In both videos, the two can be heard arguing over whether or not Castile was reaching for his gun (which he admitted to having) or his ID.
"I think in this case, actually, the defense is walking in, I think in a way, more favorable than the state because there is generally in Minnesota still a great respect for law enforcement", Halberg said. Yanez repeated his orders and then fired seven shots at Castile, later telling investigators that Castile ignored his orders and canted his body up as he reached between his right leg and the car's center console.
Police form a line in response to protesters who blocked a highway while rallying in response to the killing of Philando Castile, who was shot and killed by a suburban St. Paul police officer on July 6. Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, turned to Facebook Live as the officer was still standing at the window, gun drawn.
Reynolds: "Stay with me, we got pulled over for a busted tail light in the back". Yanez had also previously asked Castile to produce his driver's license and insurance information. Oh, my God, please, don't tell me he's dead. Please don't tell me this, lord.
REYNOLDS: Yes, I will sir. I'll keep my hands where they are.
Yanez's legal team of Earl Gray and Thomas Kelly insisted the deadly force was justified because he reacted to the presence of a gun, not a permit.
JOHN CHOI: His dying words were in protest that he wasn't reaching for his gun. Fewer than a half dozen were African-Americans.
While taking a break from mowing his lawn, 54-year-old Ron Brisbois says he hasn't reached any conclusions about the case, but he is glad the process will play out in a public courtroom.
Yanez is of Latino descent.
"It could have been a little more diverse", said John Thompson, a close friend of Castile's who attended Tuesday's proceedings. He says the racial makeup of the jury pool gives him pause.
"I think it was appropriate that charges were filed, and I think it's appropriate now that a jury will hear the testimony", he says. Jury selection begins Tuesday, May 30, 2017, in the manslaughter case against Yanez, a S. They haven't said whether Yanez will testify on the witness stand, but Daly and Frase said his self-defense claim nearly necessitates that he testify even though he has a constitutional right to remain silent. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepic in Minneapolis.
