Man charged with killing Massachusetts officer faces trial

The trial of a man charged with killing Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon in 2018 started Monday with jury selection.

Thomas Latanowich, of Somerville, faces a murder charge in Barnstable Superior Court.

Gannon, 32, the department’s K-9 officer, was killed in April 2018 while he and other officers were serving an arrest warrant for a possible probation violation at a Barnstable home. Gannon’s dog, Nero, was also shot, but survived.

Latanowich, described by prosecutors as a career criminal with a lengthy record, is also facing other charges, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, firearm possession without a license and mistreating/interfering with a police dog.

He has pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail since his arrest.

Latanowich, handcuffed and wearing a suit, was escorted into court by police. Gannon’s family was also present.

The judge said he expected it to take about a week to empanel a jury and the trial was expected to last for the entire month.

Latanowich’s lawyer, Joseph Krowski, asked for a change of venue given that most of the potential jurors appeared to be familiar with the case, but his motion was denied. The defense lawyer has said that Latanowich acted in self-defense.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3fl7k6Q