Testimony Postponed Monday In Van Dyke Trial Due To Sick Juror

CHICAGO, IL -- Testimony in the Jason Van Dyke murder trial has been postponed Monday because a juror is ill. The Chicago police officer is on trial for the on-duty fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in October 2014. The trial has focused on a police dashcam video showing the white Chicago police officer shooting the black teen 16 times as McDonald appears to be walking away. Van Dyke is facing multiple counts of first degree murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct.

Van Dyke maintains that he was in fear for his life when he shot McDonald, who was armed with a small knife. The defense was to have continued presenting evidence on Monday when the trial was postponed a day. The police officer’s attorneys have put more than a dozen witnesses on the stand and was expected to wrap up its case early this week. The question remains whether defendant Van Dyke will take the stand, a rare occurrence in criminal trials.

Much of the trial has focused on the dashcam video, which was released 13 months after the fatal shooting by a court order and sparked protests throughout the city of an alleged police cover-up. Included in the defense evidence was a simulation of the dashcam video meant to show Van Dyke’s state of mind and perspective the night of Oct. 20, 2014, when officers responded to a call of man armed with a knife acting erratically.

Jurors have also heard from expert witnesses refuting the prosecutors’ testimony, including former forensic pathologist for the Cook County Medical Examiner, and a retired trainer from the CPD police academy who stated that officers are trained to shoot until their weapons are emptied.

Calling Van Dyke to stand could open the police officer to questioning about citizen complaints of excessive force lodged against him, one of which resulted in a $350,000 out of court settlement. The Chicago City Council also voted in 2015 to grant McDonald’s mother $5 million settlement without any discussion. Putting Van Dyke on the stand however, could also humanize the embattled police officer for the jurors.

More on Patch:

• Van Dyke Was Following Police Training When He Shot Laquan
• Van Dyke Attorneys Put Laquan McDonald's Troubled Past On Trial
• Prosecution Rests Case In Jason Van Dyke Murder Trial
• Cook County Medical Examiner Says 24 Holes Found In Laquan's Body
• Van Dyke's Partner Testifies Laquan McDonald Was A 'Threat'
• Testimony Begins In Jason Van Dyke Trial
• Jason Van Dyke Trial: What You Need To Know
• Jury Will Decide Fate Of Jason Van Dyke
• Jury Selected In Jason Van Dyke Trial
• 'I'm Not A Racist,' Says Chicago Cop In Laquan McDonald
• Police Reports of 'Lunging, Knife-Swinging' Laquan McDonald Contradict Video
• 3 Chicago Cops Indicted In Alleged Cover-Up Of Laquan McDonald Shooting

~ Jason Van Dyke | Getty Images