Special prosecutor to help in Minnesota police killing case

A Minnesota prosecutor said Friday that he won’t step aside but will add a special prosecutor to his team while deciding whether to charge a police officer in the fatal shooting of a black motorist whose girlfriend recorded the immediate aftermath of the shooting in a live video on Facebook. “He is going to be just like an assistant Ramsey County attorney in this case”, Choi said. Most advocates for a special prosecutor said their position was not an attack on Choi personally, but said it was the best way to insure a fair process. Freeman decided not to charge the two officers in that case, upsetting activists. Choi said the decision was made in an effort to “enhance the team” and provide an independent voice as the probe goes forward. “This is ultimately what justice requires”. She said she listened to the prosecutor’s reasoning and understood his decision.

“In the system of justice the process is equally important”, Choi said.

Lewis said he was proud to join the case.

Lewis said his role in the prosecutor’s office review of the Castile case will be “substantial, meaningful and visible”.

Since July 7th, the day after Castile was shot, protesters have been stationed outside the Governor’s Mansion on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.

Philando Castile, 32, died after being shot by St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez after a traffic stop July 6.

In the video, Castile’s fiancée says that the officer had pulled him over for a broken tail light, and that he had told the officer that he had a gun for which he had a concealed-carry permit.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the shooting and the case has yet to be presented to the attorney’s office.

Soon after Castile was shot, Choi held a news conference in which he called for a “prompt and thorough” investigation into the incident.

“Don is going to play a very, very critical role”. Together, they will work to decide whether to present the case to a grand jury, charge the officer or decline charges. The story inspired global media coverage and weeks of protests directed at both police and Gov. Mark Dayton, with hundreds arrested in St. Paul. He served five years as the dean of the Hamline Law School and he is a partner at Nilan Johnson and Lewis, a Minneapolis law firm.

Lewis was hired by the city of Minneapolis past year to investigate allegations of excessive force in an activist’s 2014 arrest. In his report, Lewis wrote that the officers were justified in arresting Flowers.