Former officer charged in shooting death released on bail

Slager, who was sacked from his post as a police officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, was arrested in April and has been in custody since.

Newman conceded that “these are excruciating issues for the court to deal with” and said he was troubled that the trial is delayed because of the order in the Roof case.

Scott was shot in the back five times as he tried to run away from Slager on April 4 after being pulled over, reportedly for a broken brake light. His attorney, Andy Savage, asked that no one be given knowledge of where Slager and his family will be staying while they wait for trial. A judge set bond for Slager on Monday.

Newman set the trial date and then considered Savage’s second request to release his client on bond.

“When I go down to that graveyard and see my son, all I see at that graveyard is a pot in the ground with flowers in it”, Scott said.

There were hugs and smiles and more than a few sighs of relief after the hearing. Members of Scott’s family gasped in court when the decision was announced. Bamberg said justice would prevail in the case. That meant Slager would have to pay $50,000 to be released as he awaits trial.

Justin Bamberg, an attorney for the family of Walter Scott, said damaging property or hurting innocent people would do nothing to help Scott’s family or affect the trial process, but would only get the perpetrators arrested. Slager has said he feared that Scott, who was unarmed and died at the scene, had a gun.

“You can’t just do what he did and not think about what you’re doing”, he said. But prosecutor Scarlett Wilson said the state would not be ready until November.

It was a point Savage quickly defended, asking when Slager spoke about the murder case.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said on Twitter that Slager made bond and was released from jail at 7 p.m. Monday.

His attorneys have also argued that Slager’s health needs were not provided for in prison. The South Carolina Supreme Court has suspended all trials until after Dylan Roof’s trial, which is scheduled for July.

According to the Charleston Post and Courier, Slager’s attorney Andy Savage pleaded for his release because of his clients complications from celiac disease from the gluten in the jail’s food.

“We believe the defendant remains, as the court found, a danger to the community and a flight risk”, Wilson said.

Slager has been held in 23-hour isolation for his protection since his incarceration.

A judge granted Slager a $500,000 surety bond at a hearing Monday afternoon. Jury questionnaires could go out to potential jurors in August, according to the solicitor.

A statement from the National Action Network founded by Al Sharpton was read at a news conference.