No Verdict Yet In Trial of Officer Yanez for Philando Castile Murder

St. Paul, MN – A verdict was expected today in the trial of St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez for manslaughter. Yanez was charged on November 16, 2016 after he killed 32-year-old African-American Philando Castile by shooting him five times during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights, MN on July 6, 2016. Yanez is being tried by a mostly white jury.

Watch here for our live video coverage of the aftermath of the verdict:

Video livestreamed at the scene of the shooting by Castile’s girlfriend went viral and was censored by Facebook. Massive protests took place last summer in St. Paul, MN, and across the country, condemning Castile’s murder, who bled out in the passenger seat of the car as Yanez continued to hold him and his girlfriend at gunpoint.

Content Advisory: Graphic Video

Verdict Upcoming in #YanezTrial [#PhilandoCastile] in the Next Days – Follow @UR_Ninja for updates from the community after the verdict pic.twitter.com/jppAK4F8L3

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) June 14, 2017

Earlier today barricades were seen outside the Minnesota Governor’s mansion.

Barricades outside MN Governor’s Mansion. Picture credit: Corydon Nilsson

The barricades were later taken down, apparently at Governor Dayton’s request.

Minnesota Governor’s Mansion with barricades removed, around 1:15 PM central time

St. Paul police plan to respond to any protests after the verdict with a new ‘special operations unit,’ commander Josh Lego told MPR News yesterday. Officers in nearby Maplewood, MN were also fitted for gas masks recently. A memo issued by Maplewood, MN then-police chief Paul Schnell last month read:

“Out of an abundance of concern, law enforcement agencies are beginning to develop, and in some instances finalize, plans for civil unrest following the trial…“

At around 3 p.m. central time, observers in the courtroom reported that the jury was having problems and had not been able to reach a unanimous verdict, as they had been instructed to do by Judge William Leary III.

This is what the judge read to the jury pic.twitter.com/dkkhbZLbcx

— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) June 14, 2017

Around 3:45 p.m., crowds were starting to gather outside the courthouse in St. Paul, including many news crews.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m., Philando Castile’s uncle Clarence spoke to reporters outside the courthouse and stated his belief that the deliberations would not end in a hung jury.

The jury ended deliberations for the day at 4:30 p.m. without reaching a verdict. They are scheduled to resume deliberations at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 15.

We spoke with Pastor Danny Givens Jr. about his interpretations of the Yanez trial.

by Chris Schiano | Photos, livestream, & videos by Niko Georgiades

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Unicorn Riot coverage of Philando Castile's Killing by St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez:

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Categories: Racism & Far-Right

Published June 14, 2017