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Defense: Chicago officer's murder trial should be moved

Posted July 19, 2017 7:00 am

The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - The defense attorney for a Chicago police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a black teen said he plans to seek to move the trial outside Cook County.

Jason Van Dyke's attorney Daniel Herbert said in court Wednesday he would file a motion seeking a change of venue. Herbert had previously mentioned the possibility, citing pretrial publicity and alleged death threats. Release of a video in November 2015 of the shooting sparked protests and national media coverage of the case.

Van Dyke is suspended without pay and has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other counts in the October 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. No trial date is set.

Also Wednesday the judge heard arguments on whether comments Van Dyke made to police union representatives could be used at trial. The judge didn't rule on the matter.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/

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