CHICAGO (AP) — Lawyers for the Chicago police officer charged in the 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald will not have access to the victim’s juvenile records.
Cook County Juvenile Court Judge Patricia Martin ruled Wednesday that Officer Jason Van Dyke has no legal right to the confidential files simply because he is charged with murder in the teen’s death. Defense attorney Daniel Herbert argued he needed McDonald’s file to prepare for trial.
McDonald’s court records, usually confidential, were made public after dash cam video of his death were made public. They revealed McDonald suffered abuse and neglect when he was a toddler, that he was in and out of foster care, and had a history of drug and petty crime arrests.
The 38-year-old Van Dyke has been suspended without pay since being charged.
