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2nd LD Writethru: White police in Ohio university indicted for murdering unarmed black man

Xinhua, July 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

A University of Cincinnati white police officer was indicted on Wednesday on a murder charge for fatally shooting an unarmed black man during a traffic stop earlier this month.

Describing the killing as "asinine" and "senseless", prosecutor Joe Deters said at a press conference that Officer Ray Tensing " purposely" killed Samuel Dubose, a 43-year-old black man, after Dubose was pulled over on July 19 for missing his front license plate on his vehicle.

"This office has probably reviewed upwards of hundreds of police shootings, and this is the first time that we've thought this is without question a murder," said Deters.

A body-camera video of the traffic stop that later turned fatal was also released on Wednesday. Local police officials and prosecutors had previously refused to release the body-camera footage of the killing.

According to the video footage, after being pulled over, Dubose appeared to refuse to provide a driver's license. Instead, he showed Tensing an alcohol bottle and a confrontation ensued.

However, the video showed no apparent sign of aggressive actions by Dubose towards the officer till the moment when Dubose drove away and Officer Tensing appeared to fall to the ground.

"People want to believe that Mr. Dubose had done something violent towards the officer. He did not," said Deters.

After the shooting, a police report quoted Officer Tensing as saying that he was dragged by Dubose's car, which led to the deadly shooting.

However, the prosecutor dismissed Tensing's version of the shooting, arguing that the officer fell backwards after shooting Dubose in the head.

Another officer, Phillip Kidd, reportedly told police officials that he saw a green Honda Accord, which was later confirmed to be Dubose's, drag Tensing and saw Tensing fire his gun.

Shortly after his indictment on Wednesday, Tensing, who so far had been on administrative paid leave, turned himself in, according to local media report. If convicted, Tensing could face 15 years to life in prison. Endite