A Cleveland police officer heads to trial today on charges of voluntary manslaughter for his role in a fatal shooting in 2012. ideastream's Nick Castele reports the officer was one of 13 to open fire after a cross-town car chase.
More than 60 police cars pursued Timothy Russell and passenger Malissa Williams in November 2012. Officers believed the pair had fired on them.
The chase came to an end at night in a middle school parking lot. 13 officers fired 137 gunshots, killing Russell and Williams. Neither was ever found to have had a gun.
Prosecutors last year charged Officer Michael Brelo with manslaughter, saying he fired 49 of those shots, including 15 after the car came to a halt. Prosecutors also say Brelo climbed on the hood of the car and fired down through the windshield.
The defense has called that story a "fairy tale," saying officers feared for their lives when the car drove at them.
Prosecutors accuse some officers of not cooperating during trial preparation-the prosecution would like these officers to take the stand as "hostile witnesses," meaning the state could ask them leading questions.
Five police supervisors also face dereliction of duty charges. No trial date has yet been set for them.
All defendants have pleaded not guilty.
