Coy appeared virtually from the Franklin County jail – wearing a brown jumpsuit and face mask – and a judge set a $ 3 million bail and ordered that he had no contact with police officers or witnesses in his case.
Coy shot Hill, who was Black, within seconds of their meeting as Hill walked over to Coy holding an illuminated cell phone in his left hand, the camera images showed of the body. Hill was unarmed.
The ex-agent spoke only to acknowledge to the judge that he could hear the proceedings.
His attorney, Mark Collins, cited his client’s military service and asked the court to provide bail of up to $ 250,000.
Collins said his client was not a flight risk. He called the proceedings a “self-defense case” – not a “who did it” – to determine whether the level of force used by the officer was justified.
Prosecutor Anthony Pierson argued for high tie, saying Hill lost his life as a result of Coy’s actions. Hill’s family sat in the front row of the courtroom, behind the prosecution.
The judge denied Collins’ pleas to consider cutting the tape, saying that “based on everything I’ve heard, that’s the tape I’ve made.”
The judge also established a separate $ 20,000 recognition guarantee.
Hill’s family was not completely satisfied with the charges
On Thursday, Hill’s family – through attorney Ben Crump – said they were “relieved” at the charges, but not quite “satisfied” with the charges against the officer for murdering a man who carried only his cell phone.
“The reason they are not satisfied is because, based on what has happened in America before, we know that when a white police officer kills an unarmed black person, it does not guarantee a conviction,” Crump said.
The two counts of dereliction of duty apply to Coy’s failure to use his body camera and “his failure to inform his colleague that he believed Andre Hill was a danger,” said Yost.
Coy said Hill had a gun, the report says
Coy turned on his body camera after shooting. The camera’s Flashback feature captured 60 seconds of video, but no audio, before Coy turned it on.
The footage seemed to show Coy walking to Hill, who walked over to the officer. Coy started firing in seconds. It’s not clear if Hill or Coy said anything during their brief meeting, as Coy hadn’t triggered his body camera.
The first few seconds of Coy’s body camera video with audio available showing Coy that Hill had to put his hands to the side, ordered him to lie on his stomach and warned an officer not to get close because one of Hill’s arms was under the car. where he collapsed.
Coy was fired in December. Thomas Quinlan, Columbus police chief, said at the time that the evidence provided “solid grounds” for Coy’s termination.
Ray Sanchez, Amir Vera, Rebecca Riess, Dakin Andone, Emma Tucker, Devon Sayers, Keith Allen, Travis Caldwell, Alec Snyder, Peter Nickeas and Nicquel Terry Ellis contributed to this report.