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Joe Deters

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29 Jul, 2015

Murder charge

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Tensing is charged by grand jury indicted with murder and voluntary manslaughter. If convicted, Tensing faces a sentence of at least 15 years and as much as life in prison on the murder charge and as much as 11 years on the manslaughter charge. Prosecutor Deters said he would seek life in prison for Tensing:

Can you imagine the outrage you would have if this was your kid, or this was your brother? This guy didn’t deserve to be tased, and he certainly didn’t deserve to be shot in the head. This is the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make. It was unwarranted. It’s an absolute tragedy that, in the year 2015, anyone would behave in this manner…He wasn’t dealing with someone who was wanted for murder. He was dealing for someone who was wanted for not having a front license plate.

Body cam video released

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Prosecutors release a bodycam video of Dubose’s shooting. Prosecutor Deters said the video refutes Tensing’s claim that DuBose pulled away from the stop and dragged Tensing with his car. After the stop the two men talk calmly and politely for about one minute and 50 seconds. Tensing repeatedly asks DuBose to produce a driver’s license. DuBose says he has a license but he doesn’t have it with him, and he apologizes. Tensing then attempts to open the door. It is not clear what happens next, but within a second Tensing shoots Dubose in the head. Deters:

I think he (Tensing) lost his temper because Mr. DuBose would not get out of his car. He wasn’t dragged. When you see it, you will not believe how quickly he pulled his gun and shot him in the head,” Deters said at a 1 p.m. news conference. He was simply, slowly rolling away. That’s it. It was senseless. It didn’t have to happen

WATCH: Police Officer Ray Tensing body cam, Samuel DuBose shooting