GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — During the ongoing trial of Christopher Schurr, a state police investigator presented a police academy graduation video featuring Schurr being tased, a customary part of the training process.
The video, accompanied by the soundtrack "Danger Zone," drew attention in court. The prosecution highlighted that the song was an original element of the graduation video.
We spoke with legal and law enforcement expert, Lew Langham, about the prosecution’s strategy in showcasing the video and what they may have hoped to convey. Langham quoted what the intent may have been, saying, “'It's a fun thing to do. Every cadet looks forward to it. It's not that big of a deal. So why should maybe Christopher Schurr worry so much about it? He knows what's going to happen. He knows he's going to come out of it okay. And if Patrick Lyoya had tased him, he would have came through it.' But I think when the defense gets to their case, it's more about what if Lyoya had tased Officer Schurr at that moment? Would Lyoya stop there, or would he escalate and remove the officer's gun and cause even further damage?”
The case centers on the fight for the taser and whether Schurr had reasonable fears about Lyoya gaining control during their encounter.
Outside of the courthouse Monday, we spoke with Langham, who is also a Professor Emeritus at Cooley Law School and a former detective with Michigan State Police, regarding the prosecution’s brisk pace in presenting its case.
Langham observed, “They're moving this case along quite a bit. Maybe they're looking to get some straightforward questions in with some straightforward answers, and move on from there and get the trial to its conclusion, where closing arguments will wrap things up. And maybe it depends on the trial strategy that each particular attorney has, prosecution and defense.”
Schurr faces a second-degree murder charge for the shooting death of Patrick Lyoya in April 2022.
The trial will continue to be covered daily, featuring courtroom testimony and expert analysis. Stay tuned for updates as the proceedings unfold.
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