Trial delayed for cop caught on
camera fatally shooting son
ORLANDO, Fla. —
“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America -
mentally unstable cops”
Orlando police
lieutenant who was caught on camera opening fire on his son and killing him was
allowed to move back into the home where the incident happened, WFTV learned on
Wednesday.
Tim Davis Sr.
was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his son, Tim Davis Jr.,
who investigators said he killed over a dispute.
His daughter
Tyra was seen on the video, and initially the Department of Children and
Families kept him from living at the home with her.
But its
position changed after a psychiatrist said Davis was not dangerous.
The case
against Davis was in court on Wednesday, and he convinced one judge to delay
his May trial and convinced another judge to let him go back home with his
daughter who is a witness to the fatal shooting.
Davis'
relatives said they were not happy about the judge's decision.
Davis' security
camera shows him going into his car, getting his gun, walking toward his son
and firing the gun.
He claimed that
his son had attacked him earlier, causing him to fall down steps.
Davis' lawyers
told Circuit Judge Jenifer Davis that they need more time to talk to witnesses
and look over the evidence.
In the
meantime, WFTV was told a family court judge decided to let Davis go back to
live at the family home.
However, his
sister-in-law, Gwen Osborne, told WFTV she was concerned about the family's
safety if Davis moves back in with them.
"Planted
himself two times, shot my baby two times in the chest and that's a father?
That's a policeman? That's a lieutenant? And that's child care with three day
cares? That's who you want over your kids?" Osborne said.
Judge Davis
said she was not happy about delaying the trial, but she did reluctantly and
set a status hearing for July, but did not set a new trial date.
"He's a
murderer. A plain murderer, and his daughter saw him kill her brother,"
Osborne said.
Prosecutor Jim
Altman told WFTV he was worried Davis will pressure his daughter to change her
story.
"The judge
has already made some rulings regarding his bond conditions, so if something
new comes up we'll deal with it," Altman said.
Most defendants
cannot have contact with witnesses.
"Her
testimony is locked down by the fact she's already testified before the grand
jury," said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.
Had enough? Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal
hearings into the police problem in America.
Demand mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a
permanent DOJ office on Police
Misconduct.