Slager Defense Team Wants Access to DNA Swabs from Taser

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Attorneys for Michael Slager asked Friday for access to the DNA swabs collected by state police on the Taser Michael Slager used during the fatal interaction with Walter Scott.

The defense team got access to the Taser in January under a consent order, but now seeks access to the swabs that were used to collect evidence from it.

The motion seeks to have an independent analysis of the evidence collected by the State Law Enforcement Division because that agency says DNA from Scott and Slager are present on the Taser.

However, Slager’s attorney Andy Savage notes in the filing that SLED’s analysis does not say where Scott’s DNA was found on the device.

Judge Clifton Newman signed a consent order in January granting further tests on the Taser, but that order did not include the DNA swabs.

The defense contends new tests may show that Scott got control of the Taser before the shooting.

The testing has to be completed by Feb. 12, according to the consent order.

Slager is charged with murder in the April death of 50-year-old Scott, who was running from a traffic stop. The shooting, captured on cellphone video, reignited the national debate about how blacks are treated by law enforcement officers.