No Decision Made in Bond for Michael Slager

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP/WCIV) – After 3 hours in the courtroom, a judge did not make a decision on bond for the ex-police officer charged with the murder of an unarmed man in April. The judge said the decision on bond for Michael Slager is too important to make without considering all of the arguments made during Thursday’s proceedings. Attorney’s for Slager expressed their frustration with how the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division handled the evidence. The judge did not set a time-table on when a decision will be made. A white former police officer charged with murder in the shooting death of a black motorist wants to be released from jail before his trial. Attorneys for Michael Slager will be in court Thursday afternoon seeking the release of the former North Charleston officer charged with murder in the April 4 shooting death of Walter Scott. A bystander’s cellphone video showed Slager firing eight times as Scott tried to run away from a traffic stop. The incident inflamed the national debate about how blacks are treated by law officers. Slager has been in solitary confinement since his arrest. Attorneys filed 150 pages of documents this week in support of the bond request including a psychological assessment that Slager poses little danger of doing violence. The family of Walter Scott says the defense attorney’s case is all smoke and mirrors. “He was running, running away,” said Scott’s brother Anthony. “At that point all danger to Slager was gone. So There is no reason to pull your weapon and fire upon a man to his back when he is running away.” The National Action Network held a press conference Wednesday to announce their intention to protest if Slager is released. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ABC News 4 contributed to this report.