Hearing in case against officer charged in man’s death

Published 10:15 am Wednesday, February 15, 2017

ST. PAUL — A judge is set to hear arguments on whether to dismiss the case against a Minnesota police officer who shot and killed a black man during a July traffic stop.

St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez is charged with manslaughter and other counts in the July 6 shooting of Philando Castile.

Prosecutors have said Castile was shot after he told Yanez he was armed. The 32-year-old Castile was licensed to carry a weapon

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Yanez’s attorneys have said Castile was reaching for his gun and that the shooting was justified. They will argue at a hearing Wednesday that the case should be dismissed.

Prosecutors disagree. They’ve filed documents saying issues raised by the defense should be decided by a jury.

Castile’s girlfriend streamed the shooting’s gruesome aftermath live on Facebook.