• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Slager Will Walk

Joe Steel

Joe Steel

DP Veteran
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Messages
3,054
Reaction score
560
Location
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Very Liberal
Former SC police officer Michael Slager will not be convicted of murder for shooting Walter Scott. That's what Tom Nolan writing at The Daily Beast says.

Section 16-3-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws defines murder as “the killing of any person with malice aforethought, either express or implied.” The prosecution in the Slager case will face formidable obstacles in convincing a jury that the officer acted with express or implied malice, particularly given the broad discretion and latitude afforded to the police in Graham, and, to a lesser extent, Garner. Slager’s defense counsel need only demonstrate that Slager was confronted with a situation whose exigency required split-second judgments in a tense and rapidly evolving set of circumstances that was fraught with uncertainty, peril, and danger.

The very nature of so-called “reasonableness” is inherently subjective and easy fodder for defense counsel at trial. Slager’s attorneys will portray him as a courageous, selfless, dedicated, even heroic police officer, one who unflinchingly faced danger on a daily basis, and one who may have made a mistake, but a flawed human like the rest of us who is certainly no murderer full of malice.

I am as sickened and as outraged as most who saw the tragic video of Walter Scott’s final moments, but of this I have little doubt: Michael Slager is not going to prison for killing Walter Scott. ...

Michael Slager Is Not Going to Prison for Killing Walter Scott: Here
Click to expand...

That makes sense to me. It's one thing to watch dash cam and cell phone video over and over until we can conclude the shooting wasn't necessary. It's quite another to have to decide in a split-second on the street. Holding a police officer to an impossibly high standard doesn't serve the community and we shouldn't do it.
 
He will definitely go to jail.

Sounds to me like Mr Nolan is hoping that his op-ed will stir up a riot.
 
I give it a 50% chance of him walking.. it is the US justice system after all. Even a clear cut case of murder like this.. well.
 
In my view, this officer will be convicted of murder. The defining factor will be the fact that he had the presence of mind to pick up his fallen taser and carry it to the victim's side and drop it there, thus trying to set up his justification story. The level of guilt this action shows will convince a jury that his actions were illegal and he knew they were. Had the video shown that he didn't take that action and that he tried to keep the victim alive by providing care/treatment until medical personnel arrived, he may have gotten off - but he didn't.
 
Slager was fired for cause - that cause was filing a false police report. He made two claims that turned out to be false: 1) that Scott took his taser and 2) that he gave CPR to Scott.

His radio call, immediately after the shooting, of

"Shots fired and the subject is down," Slager said moments after the shooting, according to reports. "He took my Taser."
Click to expand...

indicates that the 'justification' for shooting was to recover a non-lethal weapon shown not to be possessed by Scott when he was shot.

What will prove most difficullt for the Slager defense is, that having lied in his reporting of the 'facts', why anyone on the jury should take Slager at his word. What possible reason would cause Slager to move the taser (at least once) and to claim to have performed CPR on Scott when he clearly did not (he instead quickly moved the taser close to Scott's, confirmed dead, body).

South Carolina's Michael Slager: What we know about him - CNN.com
 
Last edited:
If Slager walks it will tear this nation apart, there will be riots everywhere. If think Rodney King was bad...
 
I don't see any way this guy skates.
 
Joe Steel said:
Former SC police officer Michael Slager will not be convicted of murder for shooting Walter Scott.
That's what Tom Nolan writing at The Daily Beast says.
Click to expand...


That makes sense to me. It's one thing to watch dash cam and cell phone video over and over until we can conclude the shooting wasn't necessary. It's quite another to have to decide in a split-second on the street. Holding a police officer to an impossibly high standard doesn't serve the community and we shouldn't do it.
Click to expand...



Tom Nolan won't make the final decision in this case.
 
Let me guess...Slager is a member of the Police Union...

The video provides context. Cops are on heightened alert with EVERY stop. In this instance, a guy bolted for no known reason, was stopped again, was tased, had the taser snatched from his hands and the suspect ran AGAIN. ALL of those factors can easily contribute to the cop being high alert. But...

when the guy ran the second time the cop calmly drew his weapon, slowly sighted in, and didnt start firing til several seconds AFTER the guy has run away from him.
 
Kobie said:
I don't see any way this guy skates.
Click to expand...

I said the same thing about OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony. ;)

The Slager defense must rely on the brief time between what is recorded on the dash cam and the cell phone video. The problem with that is it relies 100% (barring Scott's fingerprints on the taser) on Slagers word. The fact that Slager yells "taser, taser, taser", as he leaves his dash cam's range, leads me to believe that his 'taser taking' story could well be seen as premeditated - if it turns out that Scott's fingerprints are not on that taser then Slager is in serious trouble,.
 
VanceMack said:
Let me guess...Slager is a member of the Police Union...

The video provides context. Cops are on heightened alert with EVERY stop. In this instance, a guy bolted for no known reason, was stopped again, was tased, had the taser snatched from his hands and the suspect ran AGAIN. ALL of those factors can easily contribute to the cop being high alert. But...

when the guy ran the second time the cop calmly drew his weapon, slowly sighted in, and didnt start firing til several seconds AFTER the guy has run away from him.
Click to expand...

On what, other than Slager's word, do you base those (bolded above) assertions?
 
Joe Steel said:
Former SC police officer Michael Slager will not be convicted of murder for shooting Walter Scott. That's what Tom Nolan writing at The Daily Beast says.



That makes sense to me. It's one thing to watch dash cam and cell phone video over and over until we can conclude the shooting wasn't necessary. It's quite another to have to decide in a split-second on the street. Holding a police officer to an impossibly high standard doesn't serve the community and we shouldn't do it.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find this an interesting read, and here's a snippet:

"When I was a cop in Baltimore and I heard of some situation that got ugly, my first reaction was usually, 'Thank God I wasn’t there.' Because nobody knows how they’ll react in a fight until it happens. For that reason, most police officers are quite reluctant to criticize others forced to make split-second life-and-death decisions. And yet every police officer I’ve spoken to thinks that Scott’s death was horrible and that Slager committed a crime."
Think Walter Scott
 
ttwtt78640 said:
I said the same thing about OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony. ;)

The Slager defense must rely on the brief time between what is recorded on the dash cam and the cell phone video. The problem with that is it relies 100% (barring Scott's fingerprints on the taser) on Slagers word. The fact that Slager yells "taser, taser, taser", as he leaves his dash cam's range, leads me to believe that his 'taser taking' story could well be seen as premeditated - if it turns out that Scott's fingerprints are not on that taser then Slager is in serious trouble,.
Click to expand...

Casey and O.J. weren't caught on videotape.
 
nota bene said:
I think you'll find this an interesting read, and here's a snippet:

"When I was a cop in Baltimore and I heard of some situation that got ugly, my first reaction was usually, 'Thank God I wasn’t there.' Because nobody knows how they’ll react in a fight until it happens. For that reason, most police officers are quite reluctant to criticize others forced to make split-second life-and-death decisions. And yet every police officer I’ve spoken to thinks that Scott’s death was horrible and that Slager committed a crime."
Think Walter Scott
Click to expand...

I find your link to be credible except for two things: 1) the use of race as a factor and 2)

Civil fines should never escalate to incarceration. Nobody should be jailed for being poor.
Click to expand...

The reason for the outstanding arrest warrant on Scott was his failure to pay court ordered child support - not a traffic ticket. What would you suggest be used, instead of jail time (preferably with work release), to help encourage (force?) folks to pay court ordered child support?
 
ttwtt78640 said:
The reason for the outstanding arrest warrant on Scott was his failure to pay court ordered child support - not a traffic ticket. What would you suggest be used, instead of jail time (preferably with work release), to help encourage (force?) folks to pay court ordered child support?
Click to expand...

All laws eventually end with jail time. It's just a matter of steps really.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
On what, other than Slager's word, do you base those (bolded above) assertions?
Click to expand...
The first vidfeo from him being pulled over shows him bolting from his car. The second video very clearly shows the man drop the taser and run.
 
CanadaJohn said:
In my view, this officer will be convicted of murder. The defining factor will be the fact that he had the presence of mind to pick up his fallen taser and carry it to the victim's side and drop it there, thus trying to set up his justification story. The level of guilt this action shows will convince a jury that his actions were illegal and he knew they were. Had the video shown that he didn't take that action and that he tried to keep the victim alive by providing care/treatment until medical personnel arrived, he may have gotten off - but he didn't.
Click to expand...

Slager isn't trained to administer CPR. His best move was not trying.
 
PeteEU said:
I give it a 50% chance of him walking.. it is the US justice system after all. Even a clear cut case of murder like this.. well.
Click to expand...

If Slager is tried for murder and the judge does not allow the jury to consider a lesser charge, Slager is going to acquitted. It's definitely not murder.
 
CanadaJohn said:
... The defining factor will be the fact that he had the presence of mind to pick up his fallen taser and carry it to the victim's side and drop it there, thus trying to set up his justification story. ...
Click to expand...

Slager had to secure the taser. It's a weapon and he couldn't let it lay around out of his control. Doubtless, that's why he went back for it. At this point, his reason for dropping it is purely speculation. He might have seen Scott struggling and dropped the taser so he could restrain him.
 
Last edited:
ttwtt78640 said:
Slager was fired for cause - that cause was filing a false police report. He made two claims that turned out to be false: 1) that Scott took his taser and 2) that he gave CPR to Scott.
Click to expand...

Do you have a link to a story saying Slager claimed to have performed CPR?
 
VanceMack said:
Let me guess...Slager is a member of the Police Union...

The video provides context. Cops are on heightened alert with EVERY stop. In this instance, a guy bolted for no known reason, was stopped again, was tased, had the taser snatched from his hands and the suspect ran AGAIN. ALL of those factors can easily contribute to the cop being high alert. But...

when the guy ran the second time the cop calmly drew his weapon, slowly sighted in, and didnt start firing til several seconds AFTER the guy has run away from him.
Click to expand...


There are no Unions worth mentioning in SC, police or otherwise. SC is a very VERY non-Union state.


The ex-cop may or may not be convicted of murder. My guess is he will plea to Manslaughter, which can carry up to a 30 year sentence in SC.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Slager was fired for cause - that cause was filing a false police report. He made two claims that turned out to be false: 1) that Scott took his taser and 2) that he gave CPR to Scott.

His radio call, immediately after the shooting, of



indicates that the 'justification' for shooting was to recover a non-lethal weapon shown not to be possessed by Scott when he was shot.

What will prove most difficullt for the Slager defense is, that having lied in his reporting of the 'facts', why anyone on the jury should take Slager at his word. What possible reason would cause Slager to move the taser (at least once) and to claim to have performed CPR on Scott when he clearly did not (he instead quickly moved the taser close to Scott's, confirmed dead, body).

South Carolina's Michael Slager: What we know about him - CNN.com
Click to expand...

Why do I have the odd feeling that the left wants Slager to walk so they can keep the perception of racism alive that they think they are drawing minority votes from?
 
Goshin said:
There are no Unions worth mentioning in SC, police or otherwise. SC is a very VERY non-Union state.


The ex-cop may or may not be convicted of murder. My guess is he will plea to Manslaughter, which can carry up to a 30 year sentence in SC.
Click to expand...

I think if he had not picked up the Taser, walked over and dropped it by Scott to back up his story to the dispatcher, a manslaughter conviction might have been the result. I think they have enough for at least 2nd degree murder and will pursue that.
 
ObamacareFail said:
Why do I have the odd feeling that the left wants Slager to walk so they can keep the perception of racism alive that they think they are drawing minority votes from?
Click to expand...
If Slager is not found guilty, I think that the impact will be more widespread than a minority of the US.
I suspect that majority of people would find that unacceptable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom