Julian to face manslaughter trial Sept. 29 in Fulton, Mo.

A jury trial is set for Steven R. Julian, a fugitive apprehension agent for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Julian faces manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Zachary C. Snyder, 23, at a Themis Street apartment complex in February.

The trial begins at 9 a.m. Sept. 29 in Fulton, Mo., after a change of venue to Callaway County.

A pretrial conference is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 15.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle charged Julian with one count of second-degree involuntary manslaughter, alleging criminal negligence on Julian's part as he attempted to arrest Snyder on Feb. 14.

The charges followed a coroner's inquest where a jury ruled that Julian's use of deadly force was not justified when he allegedly shot Snyder, who was unarmed, in the back as he turned to run.

The jury heard Julian testify that he went to the apartment complex after learning Snyder was there.

Julian had been attempting to make contact with Snyder to serve an arrest warrant for a parole violation for car theft and drug possession, but testified that he had no knowledge of whether Snyder was likely to be armed and violent.

When he approached Snyder in the parking lot of the apartment complex, witnesses testified that Julian asked Snyder to place his hands on Julian's car. Snyder obeyed, but turned suddenly, which Julian testified he perceived as an attack.

He admitted he never saw any kind of a weapon on Snyder's person, but testified that he couldn't see Snyder's left hand clearly and thought he may have been in danger.

Julian already had his gun drawn, he testified, because it was night and he didn't have any backup physically present, though he had alerted Cape Girardeau police a few minutes before the shooting that he would need officer response to assist with the arrest. They were en route when Snyder was shot.

The Fugitive Apprehension Team, which is being transferred to the custody of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has written policy indicating deadly force must not be used to make an arrest or prevent escape unless the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent the subject from endangering lives.

"I thought I was being attacked," Julian told Cape Girardeau police during recorded interviews.

If convicted, Julian could face up to four years in prison or up to a year in the county jail.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

Witnesses testify in coroner's inquest

var inlinePlayerParameters = "f":"MOCAP","mk":"en-ap","containerId":"inlinePlayerContainer","type":"ByUUIDS","prop1":"1b8bd45c-b4dd-4c3a-8ff1-5a502df52f62","skin":"0","headlineColor":"#AB0110","borderColor":"#BBDDEE","padding":"4","sort":"Default","sortdir":"Descending"</script><script type="text/javascript" src="" /> </div>