Charges have been laid against Jason Fletcher, a former San Leandro police officer, who stands accused of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Steven Taylor, an incident that transpired within the confines of a Walmart back in April of 2020. In a recent court appearance, a judge set a trial date for January 6 next year, but not before first considering a defense motion to dismiss the charge on October 31, a move that could potentially derail the proceedings before they commence, as covered by KTVU.
Fletcher initially attempted to subdue Taylor, who was said to be in the midst of a mental health crisis, with a taser before resorting to lethal force by firing his weapon. Cell phone footage captures this confrontation. The family of the victim has since launched a $10 million wrongful death suit against Fletcher and the city of San Leandro. Simultaneously, the Alameda County District Attorney’s office prepares to prosecute after the California Attorney General’s Office was recused from the case, providing another layer of complexity to an already convoluted judicial process. Sharon Taylor, the mother of Steven, suffering from the loss, said, “I miss him so much,” per KRON4…