The Latest: Minnesota officer intends to plead not guilty

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Latest on court appearance for Minnesota police officer charged in black motorist’s fatal shooting (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

An attorney for a Minnesota police officer who shot and killed a black motorist during a July traffic stop says his client intends to plead not guilty.

St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez made his initial court appearance Friday. He did not enter a plea, which is standard, but will plead not guilty at a later date. The next hearing is set for Dec. 19.

Yanez was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Philando Castile. Prosecutors said the shooting wasn’t justified.

Defence attorney Tom Kelly says Yanez’s defence team is disappointed in the charges, and that statements by prosecutors were unfairly prejudicial to his client.

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2 p.m.

A Minnesota police officer has appeared in court on charges stemming from the shooting death of a black man during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb this summer.

St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez was released on his own recognizance after the brief hearing Friday. Yanez did not enter a plea. He is expected to enter a plea at a later date. His next hearing is set for Dec. 19.

Yanez was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter in the July death of 32-year-old Philando Castile. Members of Castile’s family attended the hearing as did supporters of Yanez.

Nakia Wilson of St. Paul is a cousin of Castile’s. She says she went to court to see the face of the person who killed her cousin.

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6:45 a.m.

A Minnesota police officer who shot a black man during a traffic stop in a St. Paul suburb is expected to appear in court on criminal charges.

St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors say Yanez was not justified in using deadly force when he shot 32-year-old Philando Castile. The shooting happened after Castile told Yanez he was armed and licensed to carry.

Yanez’s attorney has said he was reacting to the presence of a gun.

Yanez is to make his initial court appearance Friday afternoon. These hearings are typically procedural and Yanez will not be expected to enter a plea until a later date.

The July 6 shooting gained widespread attention when Castile’s girlfriend broadcast its gruesome aftermath live on Facebook.