The Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Three Arkansas police officers were in a Tennessee court to face reckless homicide charges stemming from the shooting of a woman in a fleeing car last summer.
In a brief session Tuesday in Criminal Court, defense attorney Ten Hansom said he will represent all three officers and requested a court hearing on the matter.
Hansom is the longtime attorney for the Memphis Police Association.
The shooting occurred July 18 after the three officers - Vance Plumhoff, 33, Tony Galtelli, 24, and John Gardner, 27 - chased a car from West Memphis, Ark., to Memphis after the driver drove off from a traffic stop and tried to ram a police car.
In Memphis the car spun out and the driver then tried to run over at least two of the officers, they reported. The officers fired at the car, killing driver Donald Rickard and his female passenger, Kelly Anne Allen, both 44. Both were shot in the head.
No gun was found in the car but police did find a small amount of heroin, they said. The officers were charged only with killing Allen.
Officers told investigators they acted in self-defense when they shot at Rickard.
Plumhoff, Galtelli and Gardner are on paid non-enforcement status and a legal defense fund has been started for them, said West Memphis Police Chief Robert Paudert.
Judge W. Fred Axley scheduled their next court date for Oct. 28.