8th judge hands off murder trial of Alabama police officer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Another judge has recused himself from the trial of a white Alabama police officer charged with murder in the death of an unarmed black man.

News outlets report Judge Sam Welch was appointed Friday and recused himself this week, becoming the 8th judge to drop the case.

Montgomery police officer Aaron Cody Smith said he acted in self-defence when killing 58-year-old Greg Gunn, who fled a random stop-and-frisk and was chased, shocked, beaten and then shot five times in 2016.

Welch is a former presiding judge of the state court of Criminal Appeals who says he had denied motions asking for another judge’s recusal.

The state Supreme Court has now tapped retired Dale County Circuit Judge Philip Ben McLauchlin in a 9th attempt to pick a judge.