Chicago cop charged in Laquan McDonald’s murder seeks venue change
The graphic video of the October 2014 shooting of Chicago teenager Laquan McDonald is one that many will never forget.
After community activist William Calloway released the horrific dash cam footage of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald a total of 16 times, the rogue officer was charged with first-degree murder.
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Now, according to ABC 7, Van Dyke returned to court escorted by police and wearing a bulletproof vest. Outside of the courthouse, Calloway and a small group of protesters stood demanding the judge overseeing Van Dyke’s case, to set a trial date.
Judge Vincent Gaughan claims that the reason for the delay in a trial date for the rogue officer, is a large amount of paperwork related to the case.
No justice, no peace
“We’re tired of waiting,” Calloway told ABC 7. “It’s been two and a half years since Jason Van Dyke murdered Laquan McDonald. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
While Calloway and many other protestors express their sentiments and frustrations about the delay in Van Dyke’s trial, city officials are asking them to be patient and trust the legal system.
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“We have 300,000 emails,” Gaughan told ABC 7. “People have to understand that and this is not going to be run by the public saying we have to do this or representatives or minor representatives of the public saying that it has to go to trial. It will go to trial when it’s fair.”
Change in venue
Van Dyke’s legal team is asking for a change in venue claiming that the media coverage of the case has impacted the opinions of the potential jury pool making it difficult for Van Dyke to receive a fair trial. Protestors believe this is yet another ploy to delay the trial even further.
“We say no to a change of venue,” Calloway told ABC. “We say no to anymore waiting. We’re tired. No, no, no. We demand a trial date to be set right now.”
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Judge Gaughan gave Van Dyke’s legal team a deadline of March 28 to find an expert and present research data on why the location of the trail should be changed.
Although there have been multiple accounts of Chicago Police officers shooting unarmed Black men, this is the first case in which an officer has been charged with an on-duty shooting in over a decade.
Van Dyke’s next hearing is scheduled for March 28.
