Attorneys to Make Opening Arguments in Lima SWAT Officer's Trial

By Peter Ambrose

Attorneys to Make Opening Arguments in Lima SWAT Officer's Trial

June 18, 2010 Updated Jul 29, 2008 at 5:37 AM EST

LIMA, Ohio (AP) - Opening statements are scheduled to begin in the trial of a Lima police officer charged in the shooting of a black woman during a drug raid.

Special Prosecutor Jeffrey Strausbaugh is slated Tuesday morning
to begin laying out the case for why authorities believe Sgt. Joseph Chavalia is guilty of negligent homicide and negligent assault.

Chavalia has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. An
all-white jury was selected on Monday.

The Jan. 4 shooting killed 26-year-old Tarika Wilson, injured her 1-year-old son and sparked protests and much discussion about race relations in the northwest Ohio city.

Wilson's family has said she was an innocent bystander when a
team of officers burst into the Lima rental home looking for her boyfriend.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)




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