Tulsa reserve deputy who shot unarmed man waives right to hearing

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Tulsa reserve deputy who shot unarmed man waives right to hearing

Associated Press in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Friday 26 June 2015 20.21 BST

A former Oklahoma volunteer sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a restrained and unarmed man waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Friday and was ordered to stand trial.

Robert Bates, the 73-year-old former Tulsa County sheriff’s office reserve, appeared in district court with his attorneys on Friday and told district judge Martha Rupp Carter he understood his rights in waiving the hearing. Bates is next due in court on 6 July for arraignment.

Bates has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter over the 2 April shooting death of Eric Harris, who ran from authorities during a sting involving gun sales. Bates has said he confused his stun gun and handgun when he shot Harris.

Defense attorney Clark Brewster told the Associated Press that since the basic facts of what happened are not in dispute, moving directly to trial would put his client in a better position to defend himself. Bates declined to comment on the case outside of the courtroom.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/26/tulsa-deputy-robert-bates-shot-unarmed-man-waives-hearing

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hmm interesting move

and having been though a few prelims in local cases, I can see the logic.

No use in creating a body of evidence, that ahem can be used against you... and that would happen with testimony and evidence introduction before the magistrate.