Story 003 / manslaughter

 
The defense attorney for a former Gainesville police 
officer facing manslaughter charges for a 2001 shooting 
says he's confident in his client's chances when the 
case goes to trial this spring. Henry Ferro says he 
expects a favorable verdict for 31-year-old Jimmy Hecksel. 
Hecksel is charged with shooting University of Florida 
student Corey Rice during a traffic stop in January 2001. 
Hecksel claimed he fired in self-defense, but an internal 
investigation by the Gainesville Police Department determined 
that at least two of the seven shots fired were not 
justifiable. Even though the case is a sensitive one in 
Gainesville, Ferro says he hasn't considered asking the 
judge to move the trial. The trial was ready to go in 
mid-December until questions involving the state's expert 
witness led to the case's postponement. Ferro says the trial 
is now scheduled to begin in May.

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