Family of S.C. Man Walter Scott Says They Have 'Faith' in Court System

The family of a South Carolina man shot to death by a former police officer said Wednesday that they have faith that their deceased loved one will receive justice through a criminal trial.

The family of Walter Scott made their comments shortly after a grand jury formally indicted former North Charleston police officer Michael T. Slager in his shooting of Scott on April 4.

"Today was just an example of if you keep the faith, even in the darkest times, you will see the light," Chris Stewart, the lawyer representing the Scott family, said in a statement. "We are going to patiently wait for the criminal trial in this case and we are going to patiently wait to see if the city, the police department and the chief are going to take responsibility in the civil suit."

Cell phone footage taken of the April 4 event shows Slager shooting at Scott eight times as Scott fled from the police officer on foot following a routine traffic stop. Following the release of the footage, Slager was forced to step down after the video showed that the incident contradicted what the police officer had previously stated in the police report.

Andrew J. Savage III, the lawyer representing Mr. Slager, said in a statement this week following the indictment that he had not yet received paperwork from prosecutors.

"The grand jury is a formal step, but just another step in the criminal process,"Savage said. "Until we have an opportunity to fully evaluate the state's case and to compare it with our own investigation, we will not be commenting on any aspect of the case."