Man wounded by Kent police asks for new trial

Published 10:44 pm Friday, June 19, 2009

Associated Press

SEATTLE — A man who lost a civil rights case against a Kent police officer who shot him has asked for a new trial in federal court in Seattle.

Lawyers for the man, Nicomedes Tubar, say the jury was dominated by the wife of a sheriff’s deputy who claimed to know police practices.

The Seattle Times reports the motion filed Wednesday says the jury ignored evidence about the shooting six years ago that wounded the passenger in a stolen car.

Judge John Coughenour told lawyers earlier he had reservations about last month’s verdict that exonerated Officer Jason Clift.

The officer says he fired because he feared he would be run over. The jury ruled Clift did not violate Tubar’s civil rights.