Former Decatur Police officer Mac Bailey Marquette's trial in Morgan County has been pushed back to September 21. Marquette is charged with murder in the September 2023 shooting death of Stephen Perkins.
Perkins was shot when police responded to a tow truck driver attempting to repossess Perkins' truck. The tow truck driver called police after he said he tried to take the truck and was met with a hostile Perkins, who he said pointed a gun at him. Police went with the tow truck driver, but walked around the side of the house and surprised Perkins when he emerged from his home with a gun. He was shot multiple times.
A video of the shooting was leaked. The footage begins with the initial 911 call from the tow truck driver and follows the scenario until the shooting of Perkins, shown from multiple angles. Perkins was seen on the ground, telling the officers he could not breathe and asking them to rush the ambulance.
An attorney for the Perkins family said Perkins did not have time to comply with the police before he was gunned down.
After an internal investigation, former Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion "determined department policies were violated," then-mayor Tab Bowling said during a city council meeting on Nov. 20, 2023.
RELATED: Decatur Police Chief determines department policies were violated in shooting of Stephen Perkins
Marquette claimed self-defense in the Morgan County case. He was denied immunity under Alabama's Stand Your Ground Law.
In January, his attorneys asked the judge to reschedule the trial again due to a scheduling conflict. The attorney has a training conference from June 1-17. So, Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott agreed to push the date.
The trial is expected to be lengthy, with over 60 witnesses.
Perkins' family has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit.
RELATED: Stephen Perkins family files federal lawsuit in death case; Names of officers revealed
Marquette has pleaded not guilty.
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