who was the attorney on the slager trial

What was the verdict of the Slager case?

On May 2, 2017, Slager, the United States, and the State of South Carolina entered into a global plea agreement, whereby Slager pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the indictment—deprivation of civil rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. 242.

Who is Michael Slager and what did he do?

The judge's decision comes after Michael Slager, who is white, pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights offense. Michael Slager shot and killed Walter Scott on April 4, 2015, while Slager was an officer with the North Charleston Police Department.

Did Slager violate double jeopardy by filing an indictment?

In February 2017, Slager moved to dismiss the federal indictment on the ground that it violated the Double Jeopardy Clause because he had already been tried by the State. J.A. 562-582. At the time, Slager’s state trial had ended in a mistrial, and the State planned to retry him in August 2017.

When did the court enter final judgment against defendant Slager?

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee v. This appeal is from a district court’s final judgment in a criminal case. The district court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. 3231. The court entered final judgment against defendant Slager on January 16, 2018. J.A. 1906-1910. 1 Slager

Why did Slager argue for the first time on appeal?

Who was Michael Slager?

What was the underlying offense in Slager?

Why should the Supreme Court uphold Slager's sentence?

Why did the district court not err in applying the two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice for Slager’?

Does Slager challenge the district court's conclusions?

Where a district court’s denial of a motion to dismiss an indictment depends solely on?

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Ex-cop Michael Slager sentenced to 20 years for shooting death of ...

— -- Former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for the deadly shooting of unarmed black man Walter Scott. U.S. District Judge David Norton ...

Walter Scott shooting case: Documents reveal details | CNN

Michael Slager's attorney argues the former police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, should have the chance to get out of jail.

How long did Slager get off the case?

If Norton were to view the case as manslaughter, a less serious form of killing than murder, Slager might be able to get off with a sentence as low as five years, according to Monday’s testimony. On Monday, Savage testified that he took Norton’s comment seriously because it was so spontaneous and specific.

Who presided over the Savage case?

To win a chance at a new sentence, Slager will have to show that Savage was all but hopelessly incompetent. But Judge Richard Gergel, who presided over Monday’s case, asked Savage a flurry of questions, in which Savage admitted he did all he could in preparing the case on many levels.

Why did Norton say he viewed the case as murder?

7, 2017, Norton said he viewed the case as murder because of the numerous shots Slager fired at Scott and misleading statements Slager gave police investigating the shooting — statements so misleading that Slager had obstructed justice.

When was the Scott shooting?

The hearing, which will likely conclude on Tuesday, is yet another high-profile event stemming from Slager’s April 2015 shooting of Scott — a shooting captured on a bystander’s cell phone video that subsequently went viral on social media and national television. The video captured Slager taking aim at Scott, who was unarmed and running away.

Who took the stand in the Norton case?

Savage takes the stand. In a cross examination of Savage by assistant U.S. Attorney Brook Andrews, Andrews got Savage to admit that Norton’s observation was just one of many many factors at play in the case and that Savage , despite taking Norton seriously, pursued all manner of other aggressive measures in the case.

Is Slager a murder case?

At that meeting, Norton told the three that Slager’s case “is not a murder case” — an assessment that Savage, his wife and McCune took to heart in their legal strategy for the next 11 months. In a written statement for Monday’s hearing, Norton admitted he said those words.

What happened to Michael Slager?

The state retrial and federal trial were expected to take place this year, but instead, in May Michael Slager pleaded guilty to violating Walter Scott's civil rights in federal court, ending the federal case against him and also resolving the state charges that were pending after the mistrial.

Who said he wants Slager to pay for his actions?

Rodney Scott said he wants Slager to pay for his actions. Slager’s father, mother, sister and wife also spoke to the judge, begging for a lighter sentence. They talked about how Slager led a life of service and how upset they were after the shooting.

Why did Michael Slager shoot Walter Scott?

During the state murder trial, Michael Slager's attorney said his client shot Walter Scott because he was in fear for his life. In 2016, the case ended in a mistrial.

When was Walter Scott's sentencing?

The family of Walter Scott arrives at the Charleston federal court house building for the 4th day of testimony during the sentencing hearing for former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager in Charleston, S.C, Dec. 7, 2017.

Who filmed the shooting of Walter Scott?

Another one of Walter Scott's brothers, Anthony Scott, thanked Feiden Santana, the witness who filmed the shooting, for being "brave" enough to film what he saw.

Who is Michael Slager's wife?

Michael Slager's wife, Jamie Slager, told the judge, “He had to make a decision in a split second. I couldn’t imagine having to make a decision that fast.”. The judge's decision comes after Michael Slager, who is white, pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights offense.

How long did Scott's mother serve in the second degree murder case?

The second-degree murder ruling came with a recommended 19 to 24 year sentence. At one point during the sentencing Scott's mother looked the former officer in the eye and told him she forgave him. Families on both sides of the court burst into tears.

When is Slager going to be tried?

A state trial is set for January, but it’s unclear if that proceeding will go forward after the federal one. Slager is set to be tried Oct. 31. He also is charged with three federal counts, but a trial date for that case has not been set.

What does the scheduling mean for the Emanuel trial?

The scheduling means that the trials could unfold at the same time in separate courts across the street from each other. To remain available for the Emanuel victims, Savage asked U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel on Wednesday to excuse him from all other court appearances for a two-month span starting Oct. 15.

How long was Slager in prison?

A probation officer had recommended Slager be sentenced to 10 to 13 years in prison. Gergel wrote it was Slager, not his legal team, that sealed his fate.

How long was Michael Slager in jail?

The judge denied a motion in which former North Charleston police Officer Michael Slager asked that his 20-year prison sentence for violating Walter Scott's civil rights be set aside.

How many times did Slager shoot Scott?

As a foot chase ensued, a bystander's cell phone video captured Slager firing eight times, striking Scott five times in the back. CNN's Giovanna Van Leeuwen, Meridith Edwards and Dakin Andone contributed to this report.

What did Slager do in 2016?

Slager's 2016 state murder trial ended in a mistrial, but Slager in May 2017 pleaded guilty to violation of Scott's civil rights by acting under the color of law. In exchange for the 2017 plea, state murder charges, as well as two other federal charges, were dismissed. The civil rights offense has a maximum penalty of life in prison, ...

Who wrote that Slager tried to blame the victim?

Gergel wrote that Slager, during a sentencing hearing, "attempted to blame the victim," and now was trying to "blame his defense counsel and the trial judge.". "But a careful review of this entire tragic episode makes plain that petitioner has no one to blame for his present predicament and sentence but himself," Gergel wrote. ...

Who shot Walter Scott?

Slager, then a North Charleston police officer, shot Scott, 50, in the back in 2015 as the unarmed man was running away from Slager after a traffic stop for a broken tail light. Walter Scott. Slager had tried to use his Taser twice as Scott tried to get away.

Who shot the black man in the back?

Michael Slager had argued his attorneys were ineffective. (CNN) A federal judge Monday declined to toss out the prison sentence of a former South Carolina police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man in the back in 2015. The judge denied a motion in which former North Charleston police Officer Michael Slager asked ...

Who is Paul Slager?

Paul Slager represents plaintiffs in complex, high-value cases, where people have suffered life-changing personal or financial injuries. In each of the past three years (2019-21), the Connecticut Super Lawyers * publication named Paul as one of the Top 10 Attorneys in Connecticut. He is the only trial attorney to have three different verdicts or settlements inducted as winners in the Connecticut Law Tribune ’s Personal Injury Hall of Fame, and Best Lawyers * named Paul “Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year” three different times (in the field of Product Liability Litigation), including in 2021. In 2019-20, Paul was elected and proudly served as President of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, a bar association that serves more than 1,300 member trial attorneys.

What are Paul's cases?

Paul’s cases stem from catastrophic events involving medical malpractice, sexual abuse, violent crimes, interstate trucking, defective consumer products and serious accidents. He accepts cases only after first carefully investigating the merits and only when he believes cases are required to balance important injustices, improve public safety or otherwise make a positive impact in the community.

What are some examples of Paul's cases?

A few examples of Paul’s cases include: The family of Annie Le, the Yale University graduate student who was murdered in her campus laboratory. Families of a number of infants who suffered brain damage or other serious injuries as a result medical negligence related to labor and delivery.

Why did Slager argue for the first time on appeal?

Slager argues for the first time on appeal that the court improperly applied a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice under Section 3C1.1 because his false statements to SLED investigators did not “significantly obstruct” an investigation or prosecution . Because Slager did not make this argument below, this Court reviews it for plain error. See United States v. Brack, 651 F.3d 388, 392

Who was Michael Slager?

On May 10, 2016, a federal grand jury in the District of South Carolina returned a three-count indictment charging defendant-appellant Michael Slager, a former officer with the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD), with violating 18 U.S.C. 242 (deprivation of rights under color of law), 18 U.S.C. 924 (c) (use of a weapon during commission of a crime of violence), and 18 U.S.C. 1512 (b) (3) (obstruction of justice). J.A. 13-15. These charges arose out of Slager’s fatal shooting of Walter Scott and Slager’s subsequent false statements to law enforcement officers about the incident. The Section 242 count alleged that Slager, “while acting under color of law _{] * * * shot Walter Scott without legal justification, willfully depriving him of the right * * * to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer.” J.A. 13.}

What was the underlying offense in Slager?

In determining Slager’s base offense level under the Sentencing Guidelines, the district court correctly found that the underlying offense was second-degree murder. In making its factual findings, the court acted within its discretion in crediting the account of Feidin Santana, a bystander who witnessed the events and videotaped the shooting. Santana’s account was consistent throughout the investigation, the state prosecution, and the federal proceedings, while Slager’s account was inconsistent, evolving, and largely contradicted by Santana’s video. The district court also acted within its discretion in declining to accept the conclusions of Slager’s expert witnesses. The court explained its

Why should the Supreme Court uphold Slager's sentence?

Even if this Court finds that Slager’s false statements to SLED investigators did not qualify for the enhancement because they did not significantly obstruct or impede the state or federal investigations or prosecutions, the Court should uphold Slager’s sentence because any error the district court may have committed was not plain. “An error is ‘plain’ when it is ‘obvious or clear under current law,’” meaning the error must be clear under “the settled law of the Supreme Court or this circuit.” Brack, 651 F.3d at 392 (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

Why did the district court not err in applying the two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice for Slager’?

The district court did not err, plainly or otherwise, in applying the two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice for Slager’s April 7, 2015, statements to SLED investigators because Slager’s false account of his ground altercation with Scott caused both state and federal investigators to expend significant resources to prove disputed, material facts.

Does Slager challenge the district court's conclusions?

Slager does not challenge the district court’s conclusions as to lack of peer review or publication, replication, or error rate. Rather, he argues that these indicia of reliability are not important where the methodology is generally accepted. Br. 48. Slager cites United States v. Barnes, 481 F. App’x 505, 514 (11th Cir. 2012), an unpublished Eleventh Circuit opinion upholding the admission of testimony by government experts whose methods “did not allow for quantification, but * * * were generally accepted.” Br. 48. Unlike in Barnes, Fletcher did not and could not testify that her methodology was generally accepted. Though she testified that “ [u]sing a stereo microscope to examine an article of clothing or other fiber article is an accepted practice for determining the physical characteristics of individual fibers, threads, or weaves” (J.A. 901), Fletcher did not testify that the procedure she used here—burning an exemplar item of clothing with various tools—was a generally accepted methodology. Rather, she acknowledged that she could not locate any guidance on a taser’s effect on polyester fabric, so she created one herself for this case. J.A. 898-899. She further admitted that she did not take into consideration the amount of pressure applied with the taser, or whether the results

Where a district court’s denial of a motion to dismiss an indictment depends solely on?

Where a district court’s denial of a motion to dismiss an indictment depends solely on a question of law , this court’s review is de novo. United States v. Bridges, 741 F.3d 464, 467 (4th Cir. 2014).