Officer Given New Trial in Beating Death

A white Detroit police officer, Walter Budzyn, convicted of beating a black man to death was granted a new trial in part because the jury watched the movie “Malcolm X” during a break in deliberations. Michigan’s Supreme Court said the movie may have inflamed passions in the case of Malice Green, who was beaten by officers outside a suspected crack house after he refused to show them what he had in his hand. The conviction of a second white officer, Larry Nevers, was upheld because the court said the evidence of his guilt was overwhelming and far outweighed whatever influence the movie may have had on the jury.