Charleston, SC (WLTX) - The South Carolina police officer accused of killing an unarmed man during a traffic stop last April says he wouldn't be a threat to the community if he was let free before he trial, and that he wants to see his newborn son.
Michael Slager spoke briefly during a hearing Friday at the Charleston County Courthouse. "I'm not a flight risk in the community, or a danger," Slager told judge Clifton Newman. "I've got a newborn son, who I'd like to see, and a family I'd like to spend some time with."
Slager also said he would follow any special orders of the court while on bond, including submitting to being under house arrest.
Newman had called attorneys to court Friday less than a day after he listened to nearly three hours of arguments during a bond hearing. But even after hearing Slager speak, however,he still said he needed more time to make a decision, but told both sides in the case that he intends to make a ruling "expeditiously."
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Slager is charged with murder in the death of 50-year-old Walter Scott, who the ex-officer pulled over for a tail light violation back on April 4th while Slager was working for the North Charleston Police Department. Scott ran from his car during the stop, and Slager chased him to a nearby private park where the killing took place.
During Thursday's hearing, Slager's lawyers argued again that their client killed Scott in self-defense. They say Scott and Slager wrestled for the officer's Taser on the day of the incident, and that at one point, Scott had the weapon and pointed it at Slager.
Slager's lawyers told the judge that State Law Enforcement Division tests done on the Taser found Scott's DNA on the weapon, but didn't say where. They said that information would be important to the case, and asked for an independent lab to examine the data.
However, prosecutors and lawyers for the Scott family say those arguments won't hold up, mainly because of the now well-known cellphone video that was recorded by a passerby which captured the final moments of the confrontation. In it, Scott can be seen running away, and Slager draws his gun and shoots eight times at Scott, hitting him in the back.
It was that video that led officials to charge Slager with murder, and for North Charleston police to fire him.
After Thursday's hearing, Scott's older brother, Anthony, spoke on behalf of the family.
"We did get to see my brother's murderer for the first time, and I felt something lifted up off of my heart," he said. "But it's a painful day for the family because the wound keeps opening over and over and over again."
The judge also said Friday he'll meet with the attorneys in 60 days to set a trial date for Slager.
