Attack onSureshbhai Patel: US to partly use video evidence

Washington, Aug 13
US federal prosecutors preparing to question an Alabama police officer for assaulting an Indian elderly man have sought to limit the use of a crucial video evidence during the trial, a media report said.

The attack on Sureshbhai Patel, 57, on February 6, left the elderly man partially paralysed.

The prosecutors argue that the audio after the incident is "self-serving", US-based AL.com reported on Wednesday.

An unarmed Patel, who does not speak English, was allegedly assaulted by Eric Parker while he was taking a morning walk in front of his son's house in a Madison, Alabama suburb.

"As a result of defendant (Eric) Parker's use of force, Sureshbhai Patel suffered a spinal cord injury, paralysis, and a bloody nose," the report cited federal motion as saying.

"After the incident, the defendant and other officers are recorded talking to one another and the defendant attempts to justify his use of force to his supervisor and other officers at the scene," it added.

The judge of the federal court in Huntsville, where the trial is expected to begin on September 1 this year, was asked to "only allow the first two minutes of the dashboard camera video into evidence", ABC3340.com reported.

The incident occurred when Parker and another officer arrived at the scene in response to a call about a suspicious person walking on Hardiman Place Lane.

The video from the dashboard camera showed Parker and another officer confront Patel. At one point, Parker slammed Patel to the ground.

Patel, who was left partly paralysed, underwent spinal surgery at Huntsville Hospital.

Parker, who was sent on a paid administrative leave, has pleaded not