The Associated Press
RICHMOND, Va.- A special grand jury indicted a Richmond police officer and his former partner Thursday on murder charges stemming from a police shooting during a traffic stop.
Edward A. Aeschlimann and Michael J. Couture were arrested Thursday night without incident. They are charged with the murder of 21-year-old Santanna Olavarria on May 29, 2004. Both are charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Olavarria was shot four times, once by Couture, who was inside Olavarria’s car, and three times by Aeschlimann.
Aeschlimann, a rookie patrolman, and Couture, who resigned under pressure June 29, said they acted under self defense after seeing a handgun sticking out from under the driver’s seat. They say during a struggle to remove Olavarria from the car, he took off, dragging and pulling Couture into the vehicle. Olavarria’s mother said witnesses told her they saw her son raise both hands in the air before he was shot.
Aeschlimann has been on paid administrative leave since the shooting. Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe said the department would cooperate in the investigation upon hearing of the indictments and arrests late Thursday night.
''We’re pleased,’' said Olavarria’s mother, Annette, ''but it’s real hard because regardless of what happens, we still have lost. We lost a child.’'
Aeschlimann and Couture are due in court Friday.