Minnesota Appeals Court Rejects Bid to Move Officer’s Trial

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Court of Appeals has rejected moving the
manslaughter trial of a police officer charged in the fatal shooting of a black
motorist.

Attorneys for St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez asked the appeals court
to reverse the trial judge's ruling against a change of venue.

But Chief Justice Edward Cleary wrote Thursday the appeals court will not
reverse that decision unless the lower court ``clearly abused its discretion.''

The defense claims Yanez, who is Latino, won't get a fair trial in Ramsey
County because of pretrial publicity.

Yanez attorney Earl Gray says the defense probably will petition the Minnesota
Supreme Court.

Yanez has pleaded not guilty. He fatally shot Philando Castile last summer
following a traffic stop in Falcon Heights. Castile's girlfriend streamed the
aftermath live on Facebook.