Prosecutors in the case surrounding the officer-involved shooting of Stephen Perkins will not be ready to go to trial this November.
Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott ordered the trial to be pushed back to give attorneys and prosecutors more time to prepare.
Mac Bailey Marquette, the former Decatur police officer charged with murder in Perkins’ Sept. 29, 2023 death, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Prosecutors claim Perkins did not have time to comply with police before he was gunned down.
Police Chief Todd Pinion ordered an internal investigation which found department policies were violated.
RELATED: Decatur Police Chief determines department policies were violated in shooting of Stephen Perkins
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) investigated the shooting. ALEA turned over video to the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office that shows what happened.
Officers were assisting a tow truck driver in repossessing Perkins’ GMC truck after the tow truck driver claimed Perkins pointed a gun at him on his first attempt. The body-worn video footage shows the incident from the angles of all three officers who were on the scene.
In one clip, ALEA points out that Perkins’ pistol light illuminated Marquette’s face.
Marquette has been the only officer charged. The Perkins family has filed a civil lawsuit against all of the officers.
A new trial date for the murder case has not been set.
RELATED: Stephen Perkins family files federal lawsuit in death case; Names of officers revealed
All parties are considered innocent until proven guilty.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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