Officer charged in teen's death must attend court hearings

CHICAGO (AP) - A judge says a white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a black teenager can't skip any court hearings.

Attorneys for Jason Van Dyke argued he shouldn't be forced to attend hearings because he's been verbally abused and physically jostled by protesters outside the courthouse.

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan ruled Thursday that Van Dyke must keep attending hearings. But the judge promised to increase courthouse security.

Van Dyke is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2014 death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Police video released a year after the shooting shows Van Dyke shot Laquan 16 times as the teenager walked away from officers while wielding a small knife.

Van Dyke says he was acting is self-defense. He's pleaded not guilty.