Van Dyke murder trial begins Wednesday
In less than 24 hours, the City of Chicago will be watching the Jason Van Dyke murder trial. Officer Van Dyke killed Laquan McDonald in 2014, after shooting the teen 16 times.
After almost four years, the trial will begin. Just days before the trial, Van Dyke opened up for the first time in two interviews. These interviews promoted prosecutors to hold Van Dyke in contempt of court, because they argrue his comments violated the judge’s decorum order, which forbids everyone involved in the case from speaking out.
Judge Vincent Gaughan held off his decision on jailing Van Dyke. He also set a hearing to review the prosecutions’ request to revoke Van Dykes $1.5 million bond.
Prosecutors in pre-trial called Van Dyke’s interviews ‘media blitz,' since he has not spoken to the media since the shooting occured.
Daniel Herbert, Van Dyke’s lawyer, said his client has been negatively portrayed in the news and argued Van Dyke has a First Amendment right to talk about the case.
