New York – A grand jury has begun deciding whether there should be criminal charges in the case of an unarmed man who died after being put in a chokehold by New York City police.
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Police union officials said the grand jury began hearing evidence Monday in the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner.
The proceedings come five weeks after the medical examiner found that a banned chokehold used by Officer Daniel Pantaleo contributed to Garner’s July death on Staten Island. The death was ruled a homicide.
Pantaleo’s lawyer says he expects it will take at least a month for the panel to reach a decision. He says his client denies any wronging.
The Staten Island district attorney declined to comment.