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South Carolina: Officer Avoids Jail Time After Killing Motorist in His Driveway

HeadlineApr 12, 2016

And in South Carolina, a white police officer has been sentenced to three years’ probation, avoiding any prison time, after killing an African-American motorist in his own driveway. North Augusta police officer Justin Craven shot Ernest Satterwhite after a 13-minute car chase in 2014. Dashboard camera video, which authorities refused to release until Monday, after Craven pleaded guilty to misdemeanor misconduct, shows Craven sticking his gun through Satterwhite’s open driver’s side window. Satterwhite’s arm appears briefly before Craven fires several shots. Craven claimed Satterwhite tried to grab his gun. Prosecutors initially sought to charge Craven with voluntary manslaughter, which carries up to 30 years in prison, but a grand jury refused to indict him.

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