![Minnesota Officer Intends to Plead Not Guilty](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2016/07/Philando-Castile.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Minnesota Officer Intends to Plead Not Guilty
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - An attorney for a Minnesota police officer who shot and killed a black motorist during a July traffic stop says his client intends to plead not guilty.
St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez made his initial court appearance Friday. He did not enter a plea, which is standard, but will plead not guilty at a later date. The next hearing is set for Dec. 19.
Yanez was charged this week with second-degree manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Philando Castile. Prosecutors said the shooting wasn't justified.
Defense attorney Tom Kelly says Yanez's defense team is disappointed in the charges, and that statements by prosecutors were unfairly prejudicial to his client.
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