(TargetLiberty.org) – On Tuesday a judge dismissed the charges against police officer Mark Dial who shot 27-year-old driver Eddie Irizarry during a traffic stop on August 14.
According to the reports Dial and Michael Morris, his partner, had been pursuing Irizarry who was erratically driving on that day. Morris testified that during the traffic stop, Morris had in his hand a knife which he started to raise against the officers. Dial’s lawyers have argued that the shooting was an act of self-defense on Dial’s part as he had believed that the weapon being yielded by Irizarry was a gun.
One of Dial’s lawyers, Brian McMonagle pointed out that his client had been fearing for his life and attempting to take cover which is why he was justified for firing the shots. He added that not “every tragedy” is a “crime.”
The police department’s initial statements note that Dial had shot the driver after he exited the video yielding a knife and trying to attack the officers. However, those statements were later backtracked.
McMonagle has pointed out that the charges should not have been filed against his client given the evidence in the case. Dial had been charged on six counts, including manslaughter and official oppression.
Judge Wendy Pew sided with McMonagle stating that she agreed with his points and tossing out all of the charges.
Irizarry’s relatives stated that they would request from District Attorney Larry Krasner to appeal the court’s decision and that Dial deserved to serve in prison for a long time.
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