LOS ANGELES : King’s Lawyers Barred From Alleging Racial Slurs
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The judge in the trial of a lawsuit stemming from Rodney G. King’s beating barred King’s lawyers Friday from claiming in closing arguments that the officers at the scene used racial slurs.
“I think, in fairness, you must have evidence that one of these officers” uttered such words, U.S. District Judge John G. Davies said. “It will not be referred to in closing arguments.”
The decision was a setback for King’s lawyers, who called experts during the first phase of the lawsuit to testify about whether racial epithets were made by the officers who beat King. The first phase resulted in a $3.8-million judgment for King against the city of Los Angeles. However, in the current phase of the trial, in which King is seeking punitive damages from individual officers, his attorneys have not emphasized the issue of slurs.
Final arguments are scheduled to begin Monday. The jury is expected to begin deliberating late Monday or early Tuesday.
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