(CN) - The former North Charleston police officer who was captured on video shooting a black motorist as the unarmed man ran from him was released from jail Monday after a judge said he was distressed by a delay in the officer's trial.
Circuit Judge Clifton Newman's decision to release Michael Slager on $500,000 bail comes after the state Supreme Court issued an order allowing prosecutors to delay other cases until Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine at the historic A.M.E. Emanuel Church in downtown last June, is tried during the summer of 2016.
As a result of that order, Newman said he was forced to set a trial date for Slager of Oct. 31, 2016, and in his view, the prolong pretrial detention of the officers constituted a form of punishment.
Newman had previously denied a request that Slager be granted bail, deeming him a flight risk and a risk to the community.
Justin Bamberg, the attorney representing the family of the man Slager killed, Walter Scott, said his clients disagree with the ruling, but respect it.
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