Judge puts limits on lawyers in police-involved shooting case

Columbus, Miss. (WCBI) – A local judge said he’s worried it may be difficult to select a jury in the controversial case of an officer-involved shooting that killed a Columbus man.

Now he’s putting limits on what lawyers on both sides can say to the media.

One attorney said he’s now afraid to talk to WCBI.

This case involves a white officer killing a black man. It’s already received a lot of media attention since it happened in October of 2015 and it’s probably safe to say, that attention will only increase when the case goes to trial.

The judge said he fears that attorneys speaking to the media could make it harder to find unbiased jurors. The ex-officer’s attorney argued he should be able to make comments on matters of public concern.
And that’s not the only thing that came up in the courtroom Friday.

Lowndes County Circuit Judge Lee Coleman listened to an attorney read portions of a transcript from WCBI’s story about the case last month.

“There was a ton of exculpatory evidence that the state did not present to the grand jury and we felt like it ought to have been present. it should have been presented,” Boykin’s defense attorney, Jeff Reynolds said.

The prosecution argued that statement was inappropriate.

“The state would ask your honor, that the court would issue an order, prohibiting both sides from issuing any such statements in the future,” the prosecution asked.

The defense said they should be able to comment on matters of public concern, but the judge placed restraints on what attorneys on both sides could say, without first getting permission from the court.

The judge said he’s worried it’ll be difficult to gather an impartial jury, even though the case will be tried in Southern Mississippi.

And then another motion about a statement Ricky Ball, who was shot and killed by Boykin in 2015, allegedly made when talking to his uncle, before the incident.

“Unc, they’re trying to get me.”

But Boykin’s attorney didn’t want that statement used in the trial, saying it’s hearsay.

“I can’t cross examine it. ‘What’s your basis to think that police are out to get you?’ What do you mean by get?’ ‘Do you mean, arrest you, did you mean hurt you, what did you mean by that?,'” Boykin’s attorney argued.

“The defendant has a voice in this case, the only voice the victim has were his last, nearly his last words he made to his uncle,” the prosecution argued.

The judge sided with Boykin’s attorney and said, hearsay aside, the statement wouldn’t add much to the case because what matters is what happened when Ball was shot.

In the audience, two of Ricky Ball’s family members, who say they want to see the case through.

The judge was also asked to issue an order about “rules of evidence,” regarding who is allowed to testify, and what they can testify about. A decision was not made on that, attorneys on both sides were given more time to make their arguments.

The case is set to be heard in Walthall County.