CHICAGO (AP) — The murder trial of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke will likely resume after an unexpected day off.
Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke listens during during his first degree murder trial for the shooting death of Laquan McDonald, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Chicago. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
Van Dyke’s attorneys are expected to continue calling witnesses on Tuesday after Monday’s testimony was called off by the judge because a juror was ill.
The defense team is believed to be getting close to calling its final witnesses and it remains unclear whether Van Dyke will testify about the night he shot Laquan McDonald 16 times in October 2014.
Prosecutors have contended that the white officer was not justified in shooting the black teenager. However, Van Dyke’s attorneys maintain that he acted properly when confronted with McDonald, who had failed to drop the knife he was carrying after police had ordered him to do so.
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