Former U of Cincinnati police officer's murder trial nears

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Oct. 25 for Ray Tensing, the former University of Cincinnati police officer charged with murder in the death of 43-year old Sam DuBose last year. Footage from Tensing’s body camera captured the entire, graphic event (it can be seen below the fold). Tensing stopped DuBose for not having a front license plate on his car not far from the university campus. Tensing said he discharged his weapon because DuBose had attempted to drive off and Tensing said he was being dragged by the car. Not surprisingly, that’s not exactly what happened.

At first, the officer asks to see Dubose's license, and ends up having to ask a number of times. Then, a series of events unfolds rapidly over just a few seconds. We see Tensing tell Dubose to take off his seat belt. Next, the officer grasps the handle to open the door on the driver's side. Dubose subsequently puts one hand over the door—where the window had been rolled down—and pulls in an attempt to hold it shut, while starting his car. The video then shows Tensing reach into the car with one hand, twice call out "stop"—during which time Dubose revs the engine—and then, inexplicably, the officer pulls out his weapon and delivers one shot, fatal, to the head, as the car accelerates forward and ultimately rolls to a stop not far away.

As a side note, police were quick to point out that at the beginning of the traffic stop, DuBose is seen handing Tensing a bottle of alcohol. According to the coroner, the bottle contained fragrance, not alcohol. Sorry officers: can’t use that as an excuse for shooting an unarmed Black man. Maybe next time.

Both Cincinnati’s police chief and city manager saw the footage at the time and stated it “was not good.”

Questioning of the potential jurors is scheduled to begin the following week on Oct. 31.