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Judge Recuses Self in Tulsa Ex-Deputy's Manslaughter Case
Source: Associated Press
The judge overseeing the manslaughter case of a Tulsa volunteer deputy who fatally shot an unarmed man has recused himself.
The Tulsa World reports ( http://bit.ly/1C56TSJ ) that prosecutors requested Judge James Caputo's recusal because he has had "close business and familial ties" with the sheriff's office and some witnesses in the case.
Caputo had been overseeing proceedings against former reserve deputy Robert Bates, who is charged in the April shooting death of Eric Harris.
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TULSA, Okla. — Oct 30, 2015, 12:04 PM ET
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-recuses-tulsa-deputys-manslaughter-case-34854539
Source: Tulsa World
Judge removes himself from Robert Bates case after conflicts revealed
Posted: Friday, October 30, 2015 9:39 am
Court minutes indicate that Judge James Caputo has removed himself from presiding over Robert Bates' case after conflicts were revealed Friday morning.
The attorney for the estate of Eric Harris, who was fatally shot by Bates in a Violent Crimes Task Force operation in April, sent a letter to District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler citing Caputo's relationship with key people in the case in calling for the judge's recusal.
The letter dated Thursday says "Judge Caputo has had close business and familial ties with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office ("TCSO"
, including ties with individuals who are key witnesses in the Bates case."
One matter of public record regarding Caputo's conflicts involves his work as an attorney, when he represented deputy Lance Ramsey in his divorce. Ramsey led the April 2 operation in which Harris was shot by Bates, who said he believed he was deploying his Taser.
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Posted: Friday, October 30, 2015 9:39 am
Court minutes indicate that Judge James Caputo has removed himself from presiding over Robert Bates' case after conflicts were revealed Friday morning.
The attorney for the estate of Eric Harris, who was fatally shot by Bates in a Violent Crimes Task Force operation in April, sent a letter to District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler citing Caputo's relationship with key people in the case in calling for the judge's recusal.
The letter dated Thursday says "Judge Caputo has had close business and familial ties with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office ("TCSO"
, including ties with individuals who are key witnesses in the Bates case."
One matter of public record regarding Caputo's conflicts involves his work as an attorney, when he represented deputy Lance Ramsey in his divorce. Ramsey led the April 2 operation in which Harris was shot by Bates, who said he believed he was deploying his Taser.
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Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/courts/judge-removes-himself-from-robert-bates-case-after-conflicts-revealed/article_9db29a1c-6126-57f9-9a35-5b0942575aa7.html