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Trial for 3 Washington Co. deputies charged with murder could begin in June

A GBI investigation found the officers acted improperly when they allegedly tased a man to death

DEEPSTEP, Ga. — Three Washington County deputies could stand trial for a man’s 2017 tasing death as early as June 2019.

According to Sheriff Thomas Smith, lawyers for the three now-former deputies -- Henry Copeland, Michael Howell, and Rhett Scott – appeared in court Monday for a status hearing.

RELATED: Community reacts after man dies in police custody

They’re accused of tasing Eurie Martin to death on Deepstep Road back in July 2017.

RELATED: Hundreds gather at NAACP meeting to discuss Washington Co. man's Tasing death

The deputies told investigators that they tased Martin because he was struggling with them, but videos from the scene did not show that.

You cannot hear audio from the video because it was shot inside a car.

This video may be upsetting to some, it shows the man being tased.

Smith previously said the GBI investigation found that the officers acted improperly, which is why he fired them in Oct. 2017.

RELATED: GBI reviewing video of man who died after being tased by deputies

RELATED: Judge throws out indictments of 3 Washington Co. deputies

The indictments against them on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault were tossed out on Feb. 14 last year, but they were re-indicted in June.

RELATED: Three Washington Co. deputies re-indicted in fatal tasing case

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