Judge rules on motions in Fong Lee case

Fong Lee running from police
This still from the security camera at Cityview Elementary School in north Minneapolis shows Fong Lee running from police.
Still from security video

The ruling comes just days before the wrongful death trial begins against Minneapolis police offficer Jason Anderson next week.

Anderson shot and killed the 19-year-old Lee, in 2006. He and a state patrol officer say Lee was carrying a weapon. Lee's family denies that.

Judge Magnuson's ruling allows the city to introduce evidence of Fong Lee's gang activity. Lee's family wanted to exclude that. But the Judge will not allow gang testimony to play a role in calculating any potential damages to the family.

The ruling limits the expert testimony called by the Lee family lawyers.

Judge Magnuson said an expert who reviewed a security video tape of the chase and shooting and concluded that Fong Lee was not carrying a gun, may not give that testimony.

The judge's order also prevents opinion testimony from a medical examiner.

Magnuson granted the city's request to exclude information about officer Jason Anderson's pre-employment psychological examination. Also, the judge will not allow testimony about alleged racial remarks officer Anderson made.

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