The trial of St. Anthony, Minn., Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez, who fatally shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop, is scheduled to begin Tuesday with jury selection.
As WCCO notes, Yanez is facing manslaughter charges in Castile’s death. Last summer, on July 6, Yanez pulled over Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., thinking he matched the description of a robbery suspect. Castile, who was carrying his firearm for which he had a legal permit, informed the officer of his weapon while handing over his license and proof of insurance. Nonetheless, within a minute of pulling Castile over, Yanez shot Castile, fatally wounding him.
The death of the beloved school cafeteria worker—the aftermath of which was broadcast on Facebook Live—prompted protests and once again spurred public outrage about police use of force.
WCCO reports that Yanez’s defense team will attempt to show that any reasonable officer would have responded the same way in such a situation. Prosecutors will argue that Castile was being compliant when Yanez opened fire and that Yanez acted unreasonably and with negligence.
Jurors will not get to visit the scene of the shooting. The judge also ruled against allowing the defense team to do any kind of re-enactment that used the actual car in which the shooting occurred.
Read more at CBS Minnesota.
