The trial of retired Michigan State Police Sgt. Brian Keely, who faced murder charges in the death of Samuel Sterling, has been postponed. A court order from the U.S. District Court – Western District of Michigan, as reported by FOX 17 Online, states that both the final pretrial conference and the jury trial, originally set for April 21, have been delayed indefinitely.
An evidentiary hearing is set for April 21 at the federal courthouse in Lansing for Detective Sergeant Keely, 50, of Grand Rapids, who is involved in a case where Sterling, 25, was fatally struck during a foot chase in a Kentwood Burger King parking lot on April 17, 2024. Attorney General Dana Nessel said, "Detective Sergeant Keely’s actions that day were legally, grossly negligent and created a very high risk of death or great bodily harm, which could have otherwise been prevented." The hearing follows the denial of two motions by state prosecutors to introduce autopsy photos and prevent evidence related to Sterling’s criminal history, which were denied without prejudice, allowing for possible re-filing, as stated by WWMT.
The trial for the case involving Samuel Sterling has been delayed. Michigan State Police released dash cam and body cam footage showing the vehicle collision that led to Sterling’s death. The delay, as stated in an order from Judge Jarbou, means that the pretrial conference and jury trial are "adjourned without date," according to WZZM 13. The future plans for the case are currently unknown.
