Three officers accused of covering up foul play in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald were supposed to find out their fate on Wednesday. While the judge decided to postpone the verdict for Thomas Gaffney, David March, and Joseph Walsh, all three are still expected back in court for a hearing in their case. Watch live in the player above.
March and Walsh, who have since retired, and Gaffney, who is currently suspended, are facing charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, and obstruction of justice related to reports they filed regarding their colleague Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald on Oct. 20, 2014. They claimed that McDonald was acting as the aggressor in the moments before Van Dyke fired his weapon 16 times, killing McDonald. Video released in 2015 contradicted the officers’ version of the event, and earlier this year Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder.
The three defendants opted to have their case heard in a bench trial, so no jury was involved in the case. The defense asked Judge Dominica Stevenson to dismiss the case after the prosecution presented their case, but she refused. It remains to be seen what Judge Steevnson will say during Wednesday’s hearing, but she may announce a new date for her to announce her verdict.
[Image via Chicago Police Department screengrab]
