Judge: Portion of body-cam footage in deadly Mesa OIS to be released

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - A judge has ruled that a former valley police officer will answer to murder charges and the public will see part of the body-cam video that captured a deadly shooting with an unarmed man.

In court on Tuesday, the judge ruled that former Mesa Police Department officer Phillip Brailsford will face second-degree murder charges in the killing of Daniel Shaver.

The judge also ruled that a portion of the footage of the shooting, which was captured on Brailsford's body-cam, will be released to the public.

During the two-day preliminary hearing, the judge heard from the lead homicide investigator in the case and from the sergeant who was in charge of the team of officer that were involved in the shooting.

Brailsford shot Shaver five times and prosecutors say the shooting was not justified and that Brailsford and the officers could have used less-than-lethal force against Shaver, who was crawling on the floor and unarmed when he was shot.

Shaver's widow says hearing the details of her husband's death for the first time in court was horrifying.

"It's emotional to be told your husband's last words were, 'please, please don't shoot me,'" Laney Sweet said. "It was a lot to take in."

Brailsford has been fired from the Mesa Police Department.

The Mesa Police Association released a statement saying that they believe he will be found not guilty of murder.

The judge ruled that parts of Brailsford's body-cam video will be redacted before any footage is released.

Brailsford's next court date is set for June 30th.