CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Michael Slager, the former North Charleston police officer charged with state and federal crimes from the fatal shooting of Walter Scott, asked a federal judge this week to pool his jury from across the state.
Citing "extensive pretrial publicity" of the case, Slager through his attorney Andy Savage asked that the court look beyond the Charleston area for potential jurors.
The government contends Slager denied Scott his civil rights by shooting him to death in April 2015.
Savage also represented Slager in the state murder trial late last year that ended in a mistrial.
The retrial on the murder charge is scheduled for March 1.
His federal case will go to trial on May 1, according to a court scheduling order.