HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Attorneys were questioning potential jurors Tuesday evening in the trial of an Alabama police officer charged with using excessive force against an Indian grandfather who was visiting his family near Huntsville.
Attorneys and a judge asked about 55 potential jurors whether they know anyone in the case. No one did.
Also, no one said they've already made up their mind about the guilt or innocence of Madison police officer Eric Parker, who went on trial Tuesday.
Parker is charged with violating the civil rights of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel (suh-RESH'-beye pah-TEL'), who was staying with his son near Huntsville in February and was walking in the suburban neighborhood when police received a call about a suspicious person walking in the area. Patel was thrown down and partially paralyzed during the confrontation.
Court officials said prospective jurors filled out questionnaires with personal information before lawyers questioned them in court to select a jury for Parker's trial.
Police video showed an officer struggling to communicate with the man because of language differences. After a few moments, an officer slammed Patel to the ground face-first as another officer stood by.
"He don't speak a lick of English," one of the officers said afterward.
Patel arrived for court early on Tuesday, steadying himself on a walker as he slowly moved down the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse in Huntsville. Patel is expected to testify through a translator but will need the walker to get to the stand, said his lawyer, Hank Sherrod.
"He's not fully recovered and isn't expected to fully recover," said Sherrod. "His improvement is very, very slow right now."
Parker is free on bond. Court documents indicate the defense will present testimony to show Parker's actions were justified and that he didn't mean to harm Patel.
Parker, dressed in civilian clothes rather than a police uniform, also was in court accompanied by his attorney.
Court documents show Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey is expected to testify for prosecutors that Parker's actions violated department procedures.
Muncey publicly apologized to Patel after the incident and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley called Patel's treatment a case of "excessive force" in an apologetic letter to the Indian government.
Parker is being fired by the city of Madison, but he appealed and the termination process is on hold until criminal charges are resolved.
Parker also faces a state assault charge, and Patel filed a federal lawsuit seeking an unspecified amount of money for his injuries.
Patel has been joined in Alabama by his wife and now lives with his son while undergoing physical rehabilitation, Sherrod said.