Attorneys for officer claim Castile was high on marijuana, not responsive to commands

The St. Anthony police officer who fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop last summer has asked the court to throw out the charges against him, claiming that Castile’s own actions contributed to his death.

Lawyers for Jeronimo Yanez filed a motion to dismiss the manslaughter charge filed against him in November. In an eight-page memo supporting the motion, lawyer Earl Gray wrote that Castile was culpably negligent in his own death because he had created “unreasonable risk” and took chances that caused his death.

If Castile was negligent, then Gray wrote that Yanez would be exonerated. The officer remains on paid administrative leave.

http://www.startribune.com/castile-s-death-prompting-justice-dept-review-of-st-anthony-police-department/406585886/