Minnesota cop expected to plead not guilty in man’s death
Published 9:29 am Monday, February 27, 2017
ST. PAUL — A Minnesota police officer is expected to plead not guilty to manslaughter and other charges in the July shooting death of a black man.
St. Anthony Officer Jeronimo Yanez is expected to enter his plea during a Monday hearing.
Prosecutors said Yanez shot 32-year-old Philando Castile during a July 6 traffic stop after Castile told him he was armed. Castile’s girlfriend was in the car and streamed the shooting’s aftermath live on Facebook. Authorities later discovered Castile had a permit to carry a weapon.
Earlier this month, Ramsey County District Court Judge William Leary III denied a defense request to dismiss the case.
Attorneys for Yanez, who is Latino, have argued that their client feared for his life and had no choice but to shoot Castile.