News that a mistrial was declared in the case of former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager––who gunned down unarmed Black man Walter Scott as he ran away in April of 2015––was disappointing, but justice may still be on the horizon.
Shortly after the mistrial was announced, an attorney for Scott’s family spoke out to reassure the public that Slager would stand trial for civil charges in the near future––despite the lack of resolution in the criminal trial. Now, it looks like the trial has received a tentative date.
According to The Post and Courier, federal authorities are anticipating a civil trial for Slager to begin sometime this spring. Attorneys connected to the case reportedly met on Tuesday to discuss plans on moving forward with the trial and settled on a date in May.
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Although further details on when Slager’s criminal retrial have yet to be revealed, Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson is hopeful the judge will set a new date quickly. Slager faces multiple criminal charges in the retrial, including voluntary manslaughter, murder and obstruction of justice. If convicted of murder, he stands to face life in prison.
Additional information about the specific civil rights violation charges Slager will face have not yet been announced.