Former South Carolina officer Michael Slager, who was charged with murder for shooting dead unarmed black man Walter Scott in April, was released Monday after posting bail.
The Guardian reported that Charleston circuit judge Clifton Newman granted Slager a $500,000 surety bond. The judge also scheduled the trial on October 31, which means Slager will be under house arrest until then. He is prohibited from getting in contact with any of Scott's family members.
According to CNN, Slager was recorded on a cellphone camera shooting dead Scott, who was running after a traffic stop. This has become a national controversy as an increasing number of white officers are inappropriately treating black people. After the incident, Slager was stripped off from his job as an officer and has been in custody ever since his arrest in April.
If convicted, Slager will be facing 30 years to life without parole. He was denied bon in September when the court ruled that he has violent tendencies and is at risk of fleeing. However, Slager's lawyer proved otherwise, requesting that his client should be placed under house arrest. The lawyer also argued that Slager doesn't have any past criminal records.
"If we let him out, he's going to go home to see his wife and children. All I can look at is a pot of flowers," said Scott's father, who often visit his slain son's grave, according to a report by The Independent.
Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson is still handling the case of Dylann Roof, who is the white suspect allegedly killing nine black parishioners at a church in Charleston. The Supreme Court prevents her from prosecuting any other case before it, which means Slager would have to face 11 more months of jail time.
The city of North Charleston approved in October a $6.5 million worth of civil settlement with the family of Scott.
