Van Dyke’s partner testifies at murder trial

CHICAGO (AP) – The second day of the trial of a white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald is beginning the way the first day ended: with a police officer who was at the scene the night of the killing.

Former officer Joseph Walsh was Jason Van Dyke’s police partner that night. Walsh testified Tuesday under a grant of immunity. Walsh is among three officers indicted on charges they conspired to cover up how the 2014 killing of McDonald happened.

Walsh says that after he and Van Dyke got out of their squad car to confront McDonald, he saw the 17-year-old raise his right arm and “swing that up to shoulder level … in our direction.” McDonald had a small knife in his right hand.

Video of the shooting does not confirm Walsh’s account, but Walsh says it was taken from a different angle than his vantage point.