Slager Attorneys File Motion for Expedited Hearing on Consent Order

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Attorneys for Michael Slager, the former North Charleston police officer accused of murder in the shooting death of Walter Scott, are seeking an expedited hearing on an evidence consent order after waiting a week for Judge Clifton Newman to review a proposal.

The focus of the consent order concerns a Dec. 4 request by Slager’s attorney Andy Savage for an independent analysis of the evidence collected. In that hearing, Savage and Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said they would prepare a proposed consent order.

Records show Wilson sent the proposed consent order to Newman on Dec. 16 with a follow-up email asking for confirmation it had been received two days later.

On Monday, the court scheduled a conference call that afternoon in which the three sides discussed a Dec. 2 ex-parte motion filed by Slager and the consent order. Newman said the consent order would not be signed because he thought Wilson was probably not aware of the ex-parte motion.

Slager has also filed a speedy trial motion in the case after a hearing earlier this month indicated prosecutors were looking at dates in November to schedule his trial due to the order of protection granted them as a result of the Dylann Roof murder trial.

Slager has been held in isolation at the Al Cannon Detention Center since his arrest in April.