#5: Michael Slager
Michael Slager, the former North Charleston police officer who was caught on video shooting a fleeing, unarmed motorist in the back last year, testified at his trial last month that he acted out of “total fear” after the man, Walter Scott, grabbed his Taser during an altercation. “Mr. Scott was shot because of what he did,” Slager’s lawyer told the jury. But the video, shot by a witness who said Scott never had control of the stun gun, shows Slager picking up the Taser after killing Scott and dropping it next to his body. At least one juror nevertheless seemed to buy Slager’s story, forcing a mistrial.
Via Reason