Judge sets Ohio police officer’s murder trial for November

Weeks after a patrol officer was charged in the murder of an unarmed black motorist and despite calls for the disbandment of the entire department, University of Cincinnati police are back on the beat.

Tensing was not present at the brief court hearing when Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Shanahan scheduled his jury trial to begin November.

Tensing was not in attendance at the hearing.

Tensing, who is free after posting 10 percent of a $1 million bond, faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.

“There’s never been change of venue granted in my career in Hamilton County”, he told reporters outside the courtroom.

“In this case, the problem is the cloud that is over them … that there will be a riot in the city if we acquit this guy”, Mathews said.

The case – the first time a Tri-State law enforcement officer has been indicted on a murder charge – has drawn national attention, in part due to Tensing’s body camera footage which captured the incident.

Tensing asks if DuBose is driving on a suspended license, which DuBose denies. DuBose was African-American. Tensing is said to have shot DuBose in the head in an altercation. His attorney, Stew Mathews, waived his appearance.

“I do expect this to go to trial”, Mathews said.

“He fell backward after he shot (DuBose) in the head”, Deters said, adding that it was a “chicken crap” traffic stop. Tensing thought he would be run over, Mathews said.

Tensing’s attorney said he is going through all the evidence and that the prosecution has provided everything it is supposed to. After failing to provide a driver’s license at Tensing’s request, DuBose tried to prevent Tensing from opening the auto door as the officer ordered him to remove his seat belt.