ST. LOUIS (AP) — The federal trial for St. Louis police officers accused of beating an undercover colleague during 2017 protests has been postponed until next fall.
The trial of Dustin Boone, 36, and Christopher Myers, 28, had been scheduled for early 2020, but a judge on Friday agreed to push back the date to Sept. 28 to give lawyers for a third officer, 42-year-old Steven Korte, time to prepare, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Korte was added to the federal indictment last week that charges the officers each with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury. Korte is also charged with providing false statements to the FBI. Meyers is also charged with obstructing the investigation by destroying the victim’s cellphone.
All have pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors say Officer Luther Hall, who is black, was mistaken for a protester during a September 2017 demonstration after the acquittal of Jason Stockley, a former officer accused of killing a black suspect. Hall claimed he was beaten “ like Rodney King ” by his colleagues. His injuries required multiple surgeries.
Randy Hays pleaded guilty in November 2018 to his role in the attack. Bailey Colletta pleaded guilty in September to making false statements to a grand jury. They both face sentencing early next year.
